The rock gates that are located in three campus locations are among Tarleton's more recognizable landmarks. The gates on Tarleton Street were a significant part of Tarleton life in the 1950s. During this time, they were the only entrance to campus.
The most symbolic of these entrances is located at the intersection of Military Drive and Mcllhaney Street at the east end of campus. This gate was designed by manual arts director E.A. Funkhouser and financed by the graduate class of 1925. Ten years later, the class of 1935 donated the metal part of this gateway. (This is the actual portion that opens and closes.) The entire entrance was widened in the early 1960s. This modification was necessitated by a minor emergency in which fire engines were unable to fit through the gates during a Dining Hall fire. Today, this gateway only serves as an exit from the campus.
A second gateway is located in front of the new Administration building on Washington Street. The classes of 1932 and 1934 paid for this addition. These gates were closed to thru-traffic in 1984 when construction began on the Administration building. The closing of this entrance created a bit of consternation among the student body because it interrupted the social ritual of driving up and down Washington Street. This certain gate had provided a very handy route from which to return to the campus.
The third gate is located at the intersection of Vanderbilt Street and Doc Blanchard Boulevard. It was built courtesy of the Class of 1933. This entrance is the most heavily utilized of the three stone gateways as it provides access in and out of many faculty and staff parking lots. It is also the most convenient course for traffic coming to and from the girls' dorms (Guthrie 63, 255, King 150, Traditions 28, 33).