Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
about 1 month ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Indiana West Lafayette The Smoking Fence

The Smoking Fence

Purdue students would lean over this iron fence to skirt campus rules against smoking and courting.

West Lafayette, Indiana

Added By
William Davis
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The Smoking Fence   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
The Smoking Fence   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
Fenced in Campus   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
A fence for leaning   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
The Iron Fence   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
Near Purdue Memorial Union   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
Established in 1869   satxwdavis / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

When Indiana's Purdue University was established in 1869, smoking cigarettes and courting women on campus were both prohibited by school policy. Unsurprisingly, students quickly discovered loopholes to get around such rules. Or, in the case of the iron fence that stretched around the entire length of the campus, to get "over" them. 

The long fence that bordered the school was used to keep cattle from nearby pastures from roaming onto campus, but it was also used by students to bypass a few rules. By simply leaning over what was eventually nicknamed the "Smoking Fence," students could get away with a smoke break because they were technically off campus.

This activity also drew some attention, particularly from women looking to catch the eye of these rule-bending members of the university's all-male student body. (Purdue admitted only male students up until 1875.) After classes were dismissed and students took their smoke break, women from the area ventured over to meet the men, and the courting process would commence.

It's impossible to know how many relationships were started, how many proposals were made, or how many smoke breaks were taken across the Smoking Fence. What is known is that portions of the original iron fence still exist along the West State Street portion of the campus, most notably in front of the Purdue Memorial Union Hall. 

Related Tags

Universities Fences Smoking History

Community Contributors

Added By

satxwdavis

Edited By

erjeffery

  • erjeffery

Published

March 2, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
The Smoking Fence
460-464 W State St
West Lafayette, Indiana
United States
40.42413, -86.911082
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Neil Armstrong Footprints

West Lafayette, Indiana

miles away

Family Tree Gravestones

Lafayette, Indiana

miles away

Fort Ouiatenon

West Lafayette, Indiana

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of West Lafayette

West Lafayette

Indiana

Places 4

Nearby Places

Neil Armstrong Footprints

West Lafayette, Indiana

miles away

Family Tree Gravestones

Lafayette, Indiana

miles away

Fort Ouiatenon

West Lafayette, Indiana

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of West Lafayette

West Lafayette

Indiana

Places 4

Related Stories and Lists

15 On-Campus Oddities and Treasures

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Some of the buildings which form the Palace Green Library

    Durham, England

    Palace Green Library

    This library dates back to the late 17th century and was one of the first public lending libraries in England.

  • Pavilion.

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Moray House Garden Pavilion

    This unassuming shed was the stage for a monumental event in British history.

  • Halle (Saale), Germany

    Anton Wilhelm Amo Monument

    The monument honors the first (and for a long time, only) African-born philosopher to teach at a German university.

  • Halle (Saale), Germany

    Museum of Livestock Science

    A beautiful old horse stable hosts one of the largest collections of domestic animal skeletons and taxidermy.

  • The Helsinki Observatory.

    Helsinki, Finland

    Helsinki Observatory

    Finland's oldest astronomical observatory once played a crucial role in seafaring and timekeeping.

  • Columbia, Missouri

    University of Missouri Columns

    The iconic remains of the original Academic Hall that burned down in 1892.

  • An artifact from the Cornell Hip Hop Collection.

    Ithaca, New York

    Cornell Hip Hop Collection

    This rare archive of original recordings and photos uncovers the early days of hip hop culture.

  • Old and new signatures.

    Leiden, Netherlands

    Ehrenfest's Signature Wall

    For over 100 years the most important physicists in the world have autographed this university wall.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.