Around 7.4 million people were estimated to travel on Monday to see the eclipse, coming from all over the world toward the path of totality, according to the Great American Eclipse website.

Bowling Green and WKU’s campus is no exception. Visitors from all parts of the county can be found around campus, all hoping for the best view of the eclipse.

Jacob Hopp travelled over 12 hours from St. Paul Park, Minnesota.

“It only happens once in a lifetime,” Hopp said. “I have friends here, and they told me [Bowling Green] was the best place to go.”

Other visitors brought equipment to view the solar event. Gary Little is from Albany, Kentucky and drove almost two hours to WKU.

“I chose Bowling Green because of the amount of students on campus,” Little said.

Carol Singh said the location was “a matter of much debate” with fellow travelers Anette Parks and Joan Parks. Singh is from Bloomington, Indiana, Joan Parks from Akron, Ohio and Anette Parks from Boston.

“It was about the closest spot of totality,” Joan Parks said. “Plus it looked like good weather, so worth the 10-hour drive.”

Anette Parks took a two hour flight from Boston to Indianapolis, then drove an additional four hours.

“In the end, we decided on Bowling Green because of the students here,” Parks said. “This is going to be something we definitely want to say we were able to see.”

Reporter Emily DeLetter can be reached at 270-745-6011 or [email protected].