1. Memorial Church
Commissioned by Jane Stanford as a memorial to her husband, Leland, Memorial Church, with its stained glass windows, cavernous ceiling and religious mosaics, was one of the first non-denominational churches on the West coast. With such lovely architecture, it’s no wonder that as many as 150 weddings take place in the church each year.
2. Hoover Tower
Built in honor of 31st U.S. President Herbert Hoover ‘95, the number one alumnus on our list, Hoover Tower stands 285 feet high and receives approximately 200 daily visitors eager to catch an aerial view of Stanford.
3. Auguste Rodin’s “The Burghers of Calais”
The Cantor Arts Center boasts one of the largest Rodin collections in the world, with 170 sculptures comprising both inside and outdoor exhibits. While “The Gates of Hell” outside of Cantor are inspiring in their own way, “The Burghers,” located in the Quad, are difficult to beat.
4. The Albert M. Bender Room (Green Library)
With its leather chairs, sprawling windows and top-floor location, the Bender Room is not only the prettiest study room on campus, but also offers the Farm’s best view of the Quad.
5. The William H. Neukom Building (Stanford Law School)
Built in 2011, the Neukom Building is the new location of the Law School Dean’s office as well as home to a terrace perfect for al fresco studying.
6. The Stanford University Golf Course
Consistently cited as one of the best collegiate golf courses in the country, Stanford’s golf course was designed by William Bell and George C. Thomas in 1930 and has served as the training ground for such legends as Tiger Woods and Tom Watson ‘72.
7. The Oval
Whether you’re tanning on the lawn with your girlfriends or throwing around a Frisbee with the bros, the Oval never fails to please the leisure-seeking student.
8. Andy Goldsworthy’s Stone Wall
This 320-foot long serpentine structure near Cantor was built from sandstone destroyed at Stanford during the 1906 and 1989 Earthquakes.
9. The Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve
Stanford’s very own ecological preserve, Jasper Ridge serves as the site of some of the nation’s leading environmental research, as well as an outdoor classroom for undergrads.
10. The Quad
How could a list of pretty places be complete without the center of Stanford’s architectural — and academic — world, the Quad? The Quad’s inner buildings were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and combine a distinct blend of Romanseque and California Mission Revival styles of architecture.
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