MIT’s legacy as one of the world’s most prestigious technical universities has a curious byproduct — a history of clever pranks, or “hacks.”

On Monday April 27, 2009, hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology placed a replica of an MBTA’s Red line car on the Great Dome at MIT. Check out more pranks after the jump

2007
MIT pranksters transformed a statue of John Harvard — the founder of Cambridge’s other well-known university — into a video game character from “Halo 3.”

2006
A fire truck appeared on the top of the Great Dome, one of the signature buildings on the campus.
As you’ll see in the coming slides, putting things on top of the dome is a recurring theme for MIT pranks.

2006
A Civil War-era cannon was moved from rival CalTech to the area outside MIT's Green Building.

2001
A snowman appeared on top of the dome.

1999
The pranksters turned the dome into Star Wars character R2D2.

1994
A police car was put on top of the dome.

1985
A speed limit sign geared toward an advanced audience.

1982
MIT made its mark on the Harvard-Yale football game.

1979
A plastic cow from Hilltop Steakhouse was hoisted up to the top of the dome.

1972
The piano launch from the roof of Baker House. The piano launch is now an annual event at MIT.

Early 1970s
Pranksters embracing their school’s reputation for braininess customized a street sign.

Early 1970’s
Another street sign from the same era warned motorists they were entering MIT’s territory.

1962
Pranksters turned the MIT dome into the Great Pumpkin.

1928
This hack involved a cow on a dorm roof.

1926
A car — most of it, anyway — was put on a dorm roof.