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Home / Multimedia / Photo Galleries / Photos: Florida State’s Longstanding Owl Tradition

Photos: Florida State’s Longstanding Owl Tradition

By: Dave Heller | Published: June 30, 2017 | 1:57 pm | SHARE: Share on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on X

As you walk into Florida State's historic Westcott Building, you're greeted by two, intricately hand-carved owls on the stairway leading to Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. The owls were added to the entrance of the building during a renovation between 2008 and 2010 with guidance from then-President T.K. Wetherell.
As you walk into Florida State's historic Westcott Building, you're greeted by two, intricately hand-carved owls on the stairway leading to Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. The owls were added to the entrance of the building during the renovation of the Westcott Building between 2008 and 2010 with guidance from then-President T.K. Wetherell.
As you walk into Florida State's historic Westcott Building, you're greeted by two, intricately hand-carved owls on the stairway leading to Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. The owls were added to the entrance of the building during the renovation of the Westcott Building between 2008 and 2010 with guidance from then-President T.K. Wetherell.
As you walk into Florida State's historic Westcott Building, you're greeted by two, intricately hand-carved owls on the stairway leading to Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. The owls were added to the entrance of the building during the renovation of the Westcott Building between 2008 and 2010 with guidance from then-President T.K. Wetherell.
As you walk into Florida State's historic Westcott Building, you're greeted by two, intricately hand-carved owls on the stairway leading to Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. The owls were added to the entrance of the building during the renovation of the Westcott Building between 2008 and 2010 with guidance from then-President T.K. Wetherell.
This seal, etched into a glass door at the entrance of the Westcott Building, was used by Florida State College, one of FSU's predecessor institutions. FSC added the owl to its official seal in 1903, but the owl's prominent position atop two torches didn't last long. In 1905, the Florida Legislature reorganized higher education in the state, Florida State College became Florida Female College, and the owl forever disappeared from the seal. But the symbol, representing knowledge and wisdom, has remained an important part of the institution ever since.
This seal, etched into a glass door at the entrance of the Westcott Building, was used by Florida State College, one of FSU's predecessor institutions. FSC added the owl to its official seal in 1903, but the owl's prominent position atop two torches didn't last long. In 1905, the Florida Legislature reorganized higher education in the state, Florida State College became Florida Female College, and the owl forever disappeared from the seal. But the symbol, representing knowledge and wisdom, has remained an important part of the institution ever since.
A stonework owl was included in the construction of Eppes Hall in 1918.
A stonework owl was included in the construction of Eppes Hall in 1918.
Florida State's Master Craftsman Studio designed and built an owl with a six-foot wingspan during the renovation of Ruby Diamond Concert Hall between 2008 and 2010. Chris Horne, the master craftsman who led the project, used lightweight balsa wood for the wings, foam for the body, resin for feathers and the beak, and acrylics for the eyes. The colossal owl now hangs from the ceiling of Ruby Diamond.
Florida State's Master Craftsman Studio designed and built an owl with a six-foot wingspan during the renovation of Ruby Diamond Concert Hall between 2008 and 2010. Chris Horne, the master craftsman who led the project, used lightweight balsa wood for the wings, foam for the body, resin for feathers and the beak, and acrylics for the eyes. The colossal owl now hangs from the ceiling of Ruby Diamond.
Florida State's Master Craftsman Studio designed and built an owl with a six-foot wingspan during the renovation of Ruby Diamond Concert Hall between 2008 and 2010. Chris Horne, the master craftsman who led the project, used lightweight balsa wood for the wings, foam for the body, resin for feathers and the beak, and acrylics for the eyes. The colossal owl now hangs from the ceiling of Ruby Diamond.
Florida State's Master Craftsman Studio designed and built an owl with a six-foot wingspan during the renovation of Ruby Diamond Concert Hall between 2008 and 2010. Chris Horne, the master craftsman who led the project, used lightweight balsa wood for the wings, foam for the body, resin for feathers and the beak, and acrylics for the eyes. The colossal owl now hangs from the ceiling of Ruby Diamond.
Florida State's Master Craftsman Studio designed and built an owl with a six-foot wingspan during the renovation of Ruby Diamond Concert Hall between 2008 and 2010. Chris Horne, the master craftsman who led the project, used lightweight balsa wood for the wings, foam for the body, resin for feathers and the beak, and acrylics for the eyes. The colossal owl now hangs from the ceiling of Ruby Diamond.
Florida State's Master Craftsman Studio designed and built an owl with a six-foot wingspan during the renovation of Ruby Diamond Concert Hall between 2008 and 2010. Chris Horne, the master craftsman who led the project, used lightweight balsa wood for the wings, foam for the body, resin for feathers and the beak, and acrylics for the eyes. The colossal owl now hangs from the ceiling of Ruby Diamond.
University Archivist Sandra Varry looks through a 1901 copy of the yearbook,'The Argo.'
University Archivist Sandra Varry looks through a 1901 copy of the yearbook,'The Argo.'
This is a digital capture of pages inside'The Argo.' Check out FSU's Digital Library: http://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu%3Adigital_library
This is a digital capture of pages inside'The Argo.' Check out FSU's Digital Library: http://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu%3Adigital_library
This is the official seal of Florida State College in 1903 when the owl appeared atop the two torches for the first time.
This stonework owl was created by FSU's Master Craftsman Studio and placed over a courtyard outside the Psychology Building. The architechtural accent is a copy of the same feature on Eppes Hall.
Posted in: Photo Galleries | Tagged: Florida State University, FSU, owl, Sandra Varry

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