At Purdue, school spirit doesn’t just appear in chants and colors—it comes rolling in on wheels and swinging a hammer. The Boilermaker Special and Purdue Pete aren’t mascots; they’re icons. Let’s see the history behind mascots.
What Is the Purdue Boilermakers Mascot?
Purdue University has had two mascots standing front and center throughout its history. They are called the Boilermaker Special and Purdue Pete. The Boilermaker Special drove onto the scene in 1940. Well, it was the first official university mascot. It’s not an ordinary vehicle—it’s a locomotive-type mascot. It was designed to honor Purdue’s status in engineering and its “Boilermaker” moniker. And it also symbolizes toughness, strength, and the university’s industrial heritage.
On the other hand, Purdue Pete is the more crowd-rousing, game-day celebrity. He’s the hammer-wielding character who’s dancing and jumping. He is also rallying fans in stadiums, arenas, and now on social media. However, he is not officially the mascot. Technically, Pete is right there with him when visibility and popularity are concerned. The two mascots have entirely different histories and personas. Nonetheless, they’re both a significant part of Purdue’s identity.
The Birth of the Boilermaker Special
The Boilermaker Special first appeared on the opening day of classes in 1940, but the concept began a few years earlier. In the 1930s, a group of Purdue students conceived of a mascot that would represent the university’s engineering heritage. They envisioned something noisy, mechanical, and strong and settled on a Victorian-era locomotive.
With assistance from railroad and automotive industry alumni, they constructed what would be Boilermaker Special I. It was a sturdy representation of what Purdue represented—technical know-how, ingenuity, and brawn.
Throughout the decades, the mascots received some major upgrades. They each got progressively better. Boilermaker Special VII debuted on September 3, 2011, in the Purdue vs. Middle Tennessee State football game. Purdue classified it as the “world’s largest, fastest, heaviest, and loudest collegiate mascot.”
As opposed to the Boilermaker Special, Purdue Pete wasn’t begun as a student initiative. In 1940, the University Bookstore sought a character to use for advertising. They hired artist Art Evans, who drew a sketch of a muscular fellow with a work cap and a hammer. Pete didn’t yet have a name—until bookstore owner Doc Epple was questioned about what to name the character. His response: “Pete.”
The name caught on immediately. He appeared on the front of Purdue’s 1944 Debris yearbook, and students had already begun to view Pete as a representative of Purdue’s working-class pride.
Pete went into real-life mascot status in 1956. Purdue’s director of athletics, Guy “Red” Mackey, authorized the development of a costumed suit. He was also a mechanical engineering student, and Larry Brumbaugh was up to the challenge. He first became the original Purdue Pete by creating his costume. His original appearance came with an enormous papier-mache head and padding, allowing him to do stunts with cheerleaders.
Pete’s head did not remain static. That initial 36-pound papier-mache head was difficult to do. In 1963, it was misplaced on the road, necessitating a redo. The second iteration was lighter and easier to walk around in. It was also more secure for whichever actor was performing as Pete at the time.
Next was the 2010 redesign, which was intended to make Pete friendlier and more contemporary-looking. Purdue unveiled a full-body costume and assumed fans would adore it. Instead, the response was merciless. The crowd booed the new appearance during the spring Black & Gold game. The backlash was so intense that the university abandoned the redesign and immediately returned to the old version.
Why Was the Purdue Boilermakers Mascot?
Purdue’s “Boilermakers” nickname originated in sports headlines—not the school itself. In 1889, when Purdue defeated Wabash College 18–4 on the gridiron, newspapers tossed around nicknames such as “cornfield sailors” and “blacksmiths.” It wasn’t until 1891, however, when Purdue destroyed Wabash 44–0, that the name took hold forever.
One article used the headline “Slaughter of Innocents” and described Purdue’s players as “the burly Boiler Makers from Purdue.” The nickname caught on, and rather than resisting, the university adopted it. It was appropriate. It suited the school’s hard, blue-collar reputation and became a source of pride.
KEEP READING: History of the Nebraska Cornhuskers Mascot
Purdue’s mascots aren’t just figures—they’re representations of the school’s heritage, pride, and identity. The Boilermaker Special celebrates Purdue’s history of engineering and the school’s bold, mechanical pride. Purdue Pete is the energizer, getting crowds revved up with his hammer and signature glare.
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