If you spend enough time at Northwestern, you will inevitably hear about the Bahá’í Temple that is about a mile north of campus. I’m not qualified to fully explain the Bahá’í faith, but just for a little context they focus on the oneness of religion and humanity. There are seven Bahá’í Temples around the world, with an eighth in the works. Our campus is very close to the only one located in the United States, and students appreciate having such an architecturally amazing building not too far away.
I personally enjoy the Bahá’í Temple as an impressive landmark and unique building. It has intricate carvings and symbols covering the entire tower, and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains. For me, and for many of my fellow students, it is a great destination for a run. It’s a good distance away if you want to do a pretty quick run. Every time I turn that corner and see the Temple in the distance, its beauty impresses me. Oftentimes I’ll keep going past the Temple, but occasionally I’ll take a break and walk around the gardens before running back to campus. Especially in the spring it’s a good place to unwind for a few minutes.
Even beyond running, I recommend taking a walk there so that you can also go inside the Temple. The roof is a dome full of geometric patterns and it’s a great place just to think and relax. Also, they have a visitors center underneath the Temple with information about the Bahá’í faith and the history of the Temple. Last year I had a couple of friends visit me from Phoenix and and I made sure to show them the Temple. It’s definitely one of the closest “tourist attractions” near campus (it was listed as one of the “7 Wonders of Illinois”), and certainly one of the most unique.
–Jason Smith