Stamford University is about 30 mins drive from San Francisco. I always enjoy doing University Tours whenever I travel, checking out their campus atmosphere and architecture.
When I was in UK, I visited both oldest University- Cambridge & Oxford and Newcastle University. In Japan, I visited Kumamoto University again, where I graduated many years ago. In Chiang Mai, I also fallen in love with Mae Fah Luang University, such a peaceful environment for students.
Hoover Tower is one of the most photograph spot in Stanford University. If you are lucky you will see couples taking their wedding pictures here too!
The tower is named after 31st President Herbert Hoover who was the very first student at Stanford. Hoover Dam at Nevada State was named after him too! You will see Hoover Dam on your way to Grand Canyon West if you are traveling from Las Vegas.
If you go up the Hoover Tower, you will see beautiful San Francisco Bay area skyline. Floors 1-9 are library stacks and floors 10-12 are offices. There is a gallery at the lobby. A small fees is charge per entry for an adult to go up the tower : USD 4.00
Herbert Hoover Memorial Exhibit Pavilion
The Exhibit Pavilion is free entry for public. Materials featured in exhibitions include political posters, photographs, letters & diaries.
Russian Propaganda Poster : farmers and workers are walking towards the peoples from all over the world – U.S.S.R. 1920. There are more inside the exhibit hall.
Fountain hopping – a yearly activities during freshman orientation. Freshman will have to hop into the fountain and get themselves all wet.
Stanford students have won medals in every Olympic Games and the University has the world class sport team! Saw a big banner of NCCA Championship upon entering the campus. Tiger Wood is also one of the Stanford alumni.
Other famous alumni is Google co-founder, Larry Page. He has the google playground at Mountain View not far from here.
Memory of one of the Professor of philosophy in Stanford University – Obert Tanner
Seal of the President of the United States
A large granite sundial encircled by the words “Engineer — Humanitarian — Statesman — Public Servant — Author, HERBERT HOOVER 1874–1964” stands directly in front of the Hoover Memorial Exhibit Pavilion.
Bedford Sentinels is an abstract bronze sculpture on the campus of Stanford University, located near Hoover Tower.
Campus is about monuments, big trees & acorns!
Visitor Center
University tour starts here at the Visitor Center, “free”- which covers central campus, the Main Quad (historic & academic enter of campus), Memorial Church, Engineering Quad, White Plaza (student activities area, including the Bookstore, Student Store, Old Union and Tresidder Memorial Union)
You can also purchase the souvenirs from the visitor center.
Palo Alto High School, one of the oldest high school in this region, sit next to Stanford University.
Final thoughts :
It is always fun to visit university and have a university tour if possible. If you have children, the more you need to bring them there, just to inspire them. Stanford University is pretty quiet when I was there because of winter holiday. One of the iconic landmark is Hoover Tower, don’t miss that!
You may like : Silicon Valley Tech Tour –
- Google Playground – Is this the best place to work?
- Facebook HQ -check in at the big thumb up signboard
- Apple HQ one infinite loop
- HP Birthplace – HP Garage
- Computer History Museum
14 comments
Wow what an incredible campus, I wish we had places like that here in the UK because it would make learning alot better!
Dear Sian,
UK has so many great universities too. I have visited some of them, both Cambridge and Oxford University are really an eye opening for me.
What a beautiful campus, would love to visit someday!
The view from the top of Hoover Tower is amazing, you would see the skyline of San Francisco Bay! Worth the visit if you are around that area.
Wow, it’s so pretty! I love visiting other Universities, especially American ones cause they’re usually so prestigious!
Visiting university campus in America is like replay back the movie scene from Hollywood. Stanford University also has a very special relationship with Silicon Valley businesses.
What a great tour of Stanford. We went to college on the East Coast at Columbia.
Wow, Columbia University? If it is Columbia University, it is also my dream university.
Palo Alto is such a gorgeous place! I love it out in California in general. This looks like a great tour!
This looks like a great university to visit. The history alone is an incredible experience, and the Hoover Tower looks amazing!
Oh how fun…I remember going on University tours…it was so exciting to think about all the possibilities.
I only ever toured one college. I am looking forward to going with my kids and living vicariously through them.
I loved the quote “Meditation and water are wedded forever”…so well said…been thinking about this every time I go to the sea but could never phrase that feeling into words…now I’ve got it…
Getting to know more about other universities makes me so excited! I love it and I’m always thankful for the power of technology, anyone can share his or her experience!