The two swans in Lake LaVerne are an iconic view of Iowa State University USA. Anyone who passes the lake no matter how hurried they are in, would undoubtedly spend a few minutes to see whether Lancelot and Elaine are in the scene. They are so charming to see together. This story is about Lancelot and Elaine and their home: Lake LaVerne.
The Lake LaVerne of ISU was created in 1910 with the generous donations of LaVerne Noyes: a graduate student of the first graduate class of ISU in 1872. He was a successful businessman and had an endless desire to do something that makes his alma mater look even more attractive. The three-acre marsh area to the north side of Lincoln Way in Campustown which was fed by the College Creek was beautifully re-created into Lake LaVerne with his donations of $10,000.
The idea of having swans in the lake first came from Veishea 1935 when a swan float appeared on the Lake LaVerne releasing four swans. Two of these swans were named Lancelot and Elaine by the student Jean Nesinwanger, winning $10 and since that time, there have been numerous Lancelots and Elaines.
The pair of trumpeter swans that resided in the lake from 1995 to 1999 were found to be aggressive and they used to wander more than the swans lived there before. Sometimes they could be seen even near the Parks Library which is half a mile away from the lake.
The pair you see today were introduced in 2003. Curtis Johnson, the caretaker of the swans says that they both are females. He says that the swans prefer to stay at the west end of the lake in the winter with a much bigger appearance than they really are. In the past he says that the swans were kept inside a building during the very cold days in the winter. But since the other end of the lake and the island were done, the swans are free to spend year around the lake and he believes they enjoy being free. They are found to be so playful in the winter chasing the Canada geese away but get the chance to chase them over and over again as Curtis chases the geese back to the lake! He believes that people should feel very grateful that a portion of this campus is a little bit wild looking.
This calm and peaceful area is one of the most beautiful areas in the campus and it is believed that if you walk three times around the lake silently with your lover, you are destined to be together!
- Image Courtesy: Ray Chen (ISU) https://twitter.com/IowaStateU/status/1383121791196000256/photo/1
- https://www.iowastatedaily.com/app_content/throwback-thursday-lancelot-and-elaine/article_75f217e8-f352-11e6-b405-57082b233ed3.html
- https://www.foundation.iastate.edu/s/1463/giving/interior.aspx?calcid=4346&calpgid=1284&crid=0&ecid=4350&gid=1&pgid=252&sid=1463
- https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=867266777154295
