Frog Baby is an iconic bronze fountain sculpture and beloved campus landmark located just off North McKinley Avenue behind Alexander M. Bracken Library on the Ball State University campus in Muncie, Indiana. Cast between 1917 and 1937 by celebrated American sculptor Edith Barretto Stevens Parsons and gifted to the university in 1937 by Ball State co-founder Frank C. Ball, the charming figure of a joyful toddler holding two frogs by their hind legs has anchored university folklore, academic superstitions, and sightseeing walks for nearly nine decades.
What to Expect at Frog Baby
Standing at the center of a circular stone basin framed by mature hardwood trees and brick pedestrian walkways, the statue depicts a chubby-cheeked little girl tilting her head back in laughter toward the sky while dangling a frog in each hand. Smaller bronze frogs sit around the perimeter of the pool, spraying arcs of water toward the central pedestal during the warmer months from spring through late autumn. Originally displayed inside the university art galleries—where she sat in the middle of the Sculpture Hall before the David Owsley Museum of Art assumed its current layout—Frog Baby was relocated outdoors in 1994 to the quiet landscaped courtyard north of Bracken Library so students and visitors could interact with her around the clock.
Closer inspection reveals that the statue’s bronze nose gleams bright gold in stark contrast to the dark green-brown patina covering the rest of the sculpture. Generation after generation of Ball State students have walked out of Bracken Library during late-night study sessions to rub Frog Baby’s nose for good luck prior to midterm and final examinations. During the winter freeze or major university milestones, students frequently dress the statue in hand-knitted scarves, tiny earmuffs, cardinal-and-white spirit jerseys, and miniature graduation caps. In the spring, graduating seniors gather around the fountain pool in their regalia for cap-and-gown photographs, cementing the plaza as one of Muncie’s most photographed collegiate gathering points.
- Edith Barretto Stevens Parsons Bronze Casting: Admire an authentic early-20th-century garden fountain figure created by the Virginia-born, Art Students League-trained sculptor whose cheerful children-and-amphibian bronzes also reside in major American botanical gardens and fine art museums.
- The Lucky Golden Nose Tradition: Participate in Ball State’s oldest academic ritual by reaching across the stone rim to rub the polished bronze nose of Frog Baby for good fortune on exams or upcoming travels.
- Seasonal Student Attire: Visit during autumn spirit weeks, winter snowstorms, or May commencement to spot the miniature scarves, woolen hats, and themed accessories placed on the statue by campus groups.
- Shaded Courtyard Seating: Relax on the surrounding wrought-iron benches beneath towering oak and maple canopies that filter the afternoon sun and create a calm reading nook steps from the library entrance.
- Evening Campus Illumination: Experience the fountain plaza after dusk, when ground spotlights illuminate the bronze sculpture and cascading water jets against the brick architecture of central campus.
Frog Baby at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | N McKinley Ave (north of Bracken Library), Muncie, IN 47306 |
| Neighborhood / Area | Ball State University Central Campus |
| Operating Hours | Open 24 hours daily, year-round |
| Admission / Price Range | Free ($0 admission) |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | MITS Bus Route 14 (Ball State / McKinley Ave); McKinley Avenue Parking Garage |
| Official Website & Phone | bsu.edu/map/bldngs/frog |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Because Frog Baby sits in an open outdoor courtyard on the Ball State campus, visitors can view the statue at any hour of the day or night free of charge. For quiet photography without crowds, arrive on weekend mornings or before 10:00 AM on weekdays; conversely, visiting during the May graduation weekend requires waiting in a line of seniors taking commemorative portraits. Travelers arriving by car can use metered visitor spaces in the McKinley Avenue Parking Garage next to the Student Center or the Emens Auditorium Parking Structure, both less than a seven-minute walk away. Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) buses also run frequently along North McKinley Avenue directly past Bracken Library. The entire plaza is paved with wide, step-free concrete and brick walkways that are fully accessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and strollers, with ample flat bench seating ringing the fountain basin.
Pair your stop at Frog Baby with several major cultural attractions located within a five-to-ten-minute walk along the central campus spine. Just south across the Quadrangle stands the Fine Arts Building, home to the Ball State University David Owsley Museum of Art, which houses over 11,000 works spanning global civilizations and charges no admission. A few hundred yards north sits the Charles W. Brown Planetarium and the Ball State University Rinard Orchid Greenhouse and Christy Woods, a 17-acre wooded nature preserve laced with flat footbridges and seasonal wildflower trails. Afterwards, walk ten minutes southeast to the Village promenade along University Avenue for casual lunch counters, coffee houses, and collegiate bookstores.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the visiting hours for Frog Baby in Muncie?
Frog Baby is situated in an open-air pedestrian plaza north of Bracken Library and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The fountain water jets typically operate from mid-spring through late fall and are shut off and winterized during freezing weather.
Does it cost anything to visit the Frog Baby fountain?
No, visiting Frog Baby is completely free of charge and requires no tickets or campus passes. Hourly metered visitor parking is available for a nominal fee in the nearby McKinley Avenue and Emens parking garages.
How much time should I budget for a stop at Frog Baby?
Most travelers spend 15 to 30 minutes viewing the bronze details, rubbing the statue’s nose for good luck, and relaxing on the shaded plaza benches. Combining the fountain with a walk through the Old Quad and the nearby David Owsley Museum of Art creates an easy 1.5- to 2-hour campus itinerary.
Is the Frog Baby plaza wheelchair and stroller accessible?
Yes, the courtyard surrounding Frog Baby is completely level and connected to North McKinley Avenue and Bracken Library via wide, step-free paved sidewalks. Benches and accessible restrooms are located nearby inside Bracken Library during normal university operating hours.
When planning your Muncie travel guide or browsing verified attractions in Muncie, pair this stop with standout local spots including Baymont by Wyndham Muncie Near Ball State University, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, Roots Burger Bar, and David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State University (0.5 km away).
