Penn State has always had a strong agricultural tradition. Clustered in the northeast part of campus in an area known as “Ag Hill,” are many of the University Park’s agricultural buildings. The Agricultural Science & Industries Building contains graduate education research labs. It also contains the departments of Agronomy, Dairy and Animal Science, Veterinary Science, and Entomology. Tyson Building has the departments of Agronomy and Horticulture. The Agricultural Administration Building is the main administrative building for the College of Agricultural Sciences.

The College of Agricultural Sciences was the first of the colleges at Penn State, which began in 1855 as the Farmers’ High School. Penn State today has the only comprehensive college of agriculture in Pennsylvania, offering programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The Agricultural Experiment Station, research office of the college, is also located here. The college is also the home of the federally and state supported Cooperative Extension, which serves all the counties in Pennsylvania.

From the sign in the Coaly the Mule display...

“Coaly ... had his beginning in Kentucky in 1855. In 1857 that ‘ole’ black mule left Kentucky for Pennsylvania. The College then purchased him from Andy Lytle, a local farmer. Along with three other mules and two horses, Coaly hauled tons of stone to the Old Main Building site from a quarry a few hundred yards away. Upon completion of Old Main, he remained on campus until he expired on January 1, 1893.

His remains, however, have traveled since that time. Coaly’s bones rested in a wildlife museum, established by President George W. Atherton, from 1880 until 1929. Then he was stored in the basement of Watts Hall. In 1936, Dr. James F. Shigley, a professor of Veterinary Science, rescued Coaly’s bones and placed them in the attic of the Veterinary Hospital.

Around 1950 there was a revival of interest in Coaly’s bones.... Although not here in the flesh, Coaly is with us in bones to remind us to profit by his characteristics — strength, surefootedness, endurance, long service, and loyalty.”