Bloomington in Monroe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Collins Living-Learning Center

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 2023

1. Collins Living-Learning Center Marker

Inscription. Collins has been a national leader in residential education centered on self-governance, the arts, and sustainability since 1972. Built as the first university-owned dormitory in 1924, Washington Hall (now Smith, formerly South Hall) housed students previously scattered in private rooming houses. With West (now Edmondson) and North (now Cravens) Halls, opened in 1940, it formed the Men's Residence Center. From 1942-44 MRC hosted the U.S. Naval Training School, which trained more than 5,000 personnel for wartime service, and from 1959-61 it was the site of the Air Force Language Training Program. MRC became coeducational in 1970. A student campaign saved it from becoming office space, and in 1972 MRC became IU's first Living-Learning Center, an experimental community modeled on residential colleges where students helped shape the academic curriculum. It was named in honor of former MRC headmaster Ralph L. Collins in 1980.

Erected 2019 by Indiana University.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location. 39° 10.27′ N,

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86° 31.446′ W. Marker is in Bloomington, Indiana, in Monroe County. It is on North Woodlawn Avenue south of East 10th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 541 N Woodlawn Ave, Bloomington IN 47408, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Calabi-Yau Quintic Cross-Section (approx. 0.2 miles away); Integrating Basketball (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ernie Pyle (approx. 0.2 miles away); Melanie S. Walker (approx. 0.2 miles away); The River Jordan (approx. ¼ mile away); Memorial Pillar and Centennial Steps (approx. ¼ mile away); Original Memorial Stadium (approx. ¼ mile away); Father James Martin Gilles (approx. 0.3 miles away).

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 2023

2. Collins Living-Learning Center Marker

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bloomington.

Also see . . . About Collins Living-Learning Center. Historical overview and timeline of the center and Smith Hall, whose history includes a trio of gnomes. (Collins Living-Learning Center) (Submitted on September 7, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Collins Living-Learning Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 2023

3. Collins Living-Learning Center

The center is located in Smith Hall.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 7, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.