Campus memorials and monuments
Recognizing and remembering the impact of Vandals
Across University of Idaho’s Moscow campus, monuments and memorials tell the story of our community — honoring our past, celebrating our people and inspiring generations of Vandals to come. From student-led projects to historic landmarks, each monument reflects the values, vision and spirit that define our university.
Vandal Healing Garden
Located on MacLean Field between the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences and the Physical Education Building, the Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial provides a peaceful space for reflection and remembrance. It honors all Vandal students who passed away while enrolled at the university.
Designed through a student-led, community-supported process, the garden blends landscape architecture and empathy — creating spaces for both quiet solitude and shared moments of remembrance. Dedicated on Aug. 21, 2024, the garden stands as a lasting symbol of hope, care, connection and resilience on our campus.
This project was made possible through generous donations and in-kind support. Give to support ongoing care and enhancements.
Support the Vandal Healing Garden
Help sustain and enhance this meaningful campus space.
Katy Benoit Memorial Bench
Named in memory of U of I student Katy Benoit, who tragically lost her life to interpersonal violence in 2011, this bench sits southeast of the Administration Building. Dedicated in 2012, it bears the inscription: “Katy Benoit: In memory of Katy’s journey, her care for others, her willingness to speak up and her courage to make a difference.”
The memorial bench — together with the annual Katy Benoit Campus Safety Month — serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility to support one another and foster a campus culture of safety and care.
Katy Benoit Campus Safety Awareness Month
Each September, campus departments and student organizations host events that promote safety, support and community care.
Memorial Steps
The Memorial Steps near the Administration Building are a quiet reminder of resilience. They were built using stones salvaged from the original Administration Building, which was destroyed by fire in 1906. Though the building was lost, its legacy endures through these steps — a symbol of rebuilding and moving forward together.
Building Dedications and Date Stones
Discover the stories behind U of I’s historic buildings and landmarks through photos and location details of campus markers.
Spanish American War Memorial
Erected in 1901, this statue is the oldest landmark on the U of I campus. It honors students Paul Draper and Ole Gabriel Hagberg, who died while serving in the Spanish American War. Believed to be the earliest example of a “hiker” statue — a memorial to the common soldier — it stands as a tribute to sacrifice and service.
Thirty-nine of the 248 students enrolled at U of I in May 1898 volunteered for the war, the highest proportion of volunteers to enrolled students among all U.S. colleges and universities at the time. Vandals have continued to serve with distinction in every major conflict since, contributing to the nation through every branch of the military.
Over the decades, the monument endured damage, loss and restoration — including a 1970s protest that broke parts of the statue, and a 1985 restoration by local sculptor Bud Washburn. Today, plaques in Memorial Gym replicate the original inscriptions honoring Draper and Hagberg, preserving their memory for future generations of Vandals.
ASUI Recognition Monument
Located between the P1FCU Kibbie Dome and the ICCU Arena, a larger-than-life bronze statue of Joe Vandal stands in tribute to the Associated Students of the University of Idaho (ASUI). For more than a century, ASUI has shaped student life and championed the growth of campus — from supporting the Kibbie Dome to advancing other essential student resources.
This permanent monument celebrates that enduring legacy. More than 1,500 students, alumni, faculty and fans contributed input to the design, which was sculpted by artist Gareth Curtiss.
Today, the statue stands proudly as a welcoming spot to learn about ASUI, connect with friends or snap a photo with a beloved Vandal icon.
Making the Joe Vandal ASUI Recognition Monument
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how this iconic campus landmark came to life — from early ideas to final sculpture — and what it means for generations of Vandals to come.
About the artist
Curtiss, a Montana-based sculptor with more than 30 years of experience in public art, was selected from 35 national submissions. His past work includes bronze commissions for universities, municipalities and public spaces across the Northwest.
“Together, we will be making a character already larger than life, much, much larger!” — Gareth Curtiss, sculptor