The Mall is a great place to hangout and enjoy the weather. Performances by bands and other groups frequently take place on the build in stage on the corner of the mall.

The Morris campus' historic buildings are centered around an open pedestrian mall. This plan was created in 1911, by the Minnesota landscape architecture firm of Morell and Nichols. Their plan called for a central plaza—similar to a village green or public square—surrounded by symmetrical pairs of buildings. An entrance road encircled the square, allowing visitors to drive right to the center of campus. Trees and shrubs defined the open spaces. In 1968, the Mall was redesigned by Roger Martin, a distinguished University of Minnesota landscape architect. Martin's plan replaced the original flat central square with the gently curving forms we see today. In the southeastern corner of the Mall is a grassy, sloped amphitheater, anchored by an outdoor stage built of aggregate concrete, and topped with grass and trees. It's an excellent example of 1960s design, with an organic, elliptical middle shape, small islands of green around the outside, and sidewalks that invite you to come in from all directions.

From the beginning, the Mall — the highest ground on the campus — has been a gathering place for students and staff, the site of cultural events, ceremonies, and fun and games.