In 1933, President Harry C. Byrd adopted the diamondback terrapin as the university's official mascot. The senior class that year chose to immortalize the terrapin, nicknamed "Testudo", in bronze as a gift to the university. This mounted terrapin served as the model for the original statue which now watches over the campus from his perch in front of McKeldin Library and has been transformed into a central part of campus culture.

Exhibit organized by the University Archives, UMCP Libraries Contact person: Anne Turkos, University Archivist, (301)405-9060. Special thanks to Anne for letting us post these materials on our site.

Calvert's Creation Prince George's Tricentennial Home page