The Last Dryad

Meet the guardian of Strawberry Creek: The Last Dryad. This whimsical sculpture portrays a dryad, a woodland nymph traditionally bound to watch over a specific tree or wooded area. Our dryad keeps a watchful eye over the Strawberry Creek's riparian woodland. Crafted by Stirling Calder in 1921, this sculpture was gifted to the University by Calder's family after his passing. Interestingly, during its early years on campus, this guardian had a bit of a wandering spirit and was relocated several times because it was "extremely naked." However, it was finally embraced in the 1970s and The Last Dryad finally found its forever home in the Faculty Glade.