MIT's "hacking" tradition has produced some of the most elaborate engineering pranks in history. Here are the greatest MIT hacks ever pulled off.
The Art of the Hack
At MIT, a "hack" isn't a computer crime — it's an elaborate prank that demonstrates engineering skill, creativity, and humor. The tradition goes back to the 1940s, and the best hacks are celebrated as works of art. They typically appear overnight on campus landmarks, leaving the MIT community (and the world) asking: "How did they do that?" Here are some of the greatest.
Legendary Hacks
The Police Car on the Great Dome (1994)
Students placed a fully detailed MIT Campus Police car — complete with lights, a dummy officer, and a box of donuts — on top of the 150-foot Great Dome. It took MIT days to figure out how to safely remove it. Possibly the most famous hack ever.
The Wright Brothers' Plane (1996)
A full-scale replica of the Wright Flyer appeared atop the Great Dome on the anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight. Perfectly assembled in one night.
The Caltech Cannon (2006)
MIT students secretly transported a 1.7-ton Civil War-era cannon from Caltech in Pasadena, California, back to Cambridge — a 3,000-mile heist that took months to plan.
Harvard-Yale Game Banner (1982)
MIT students buried an inflatable weather balloon under the Harvard Stadium field. During the Harvard-Yale game, it inflated on the 46-yard line, displaying "MIT." On national TV.
The R2-D2 Dome (1999)
The Great Dome was transformed into a perfect R2-D2 for the premiere of Star Wars: Episode I. Complete with painted panels and a rotating dome top.
Seeing Hack History
The MIT Museum has a permanent exhibition on the history of hacking. You can also see the Great Dome itself — where most legendary hacks take place — from across the Charles River or from Killian Court on campus.