Stanford Walking Tour: Art and Architecture in Silicon Valley

You don’t need to be a student at Stanford University to relish its art, architecture and history. Stanford is one of the largest universities in the States, and its campus is a must-see for anyone visiting San Francisco or the Bay Area. On this walking tour, I’ll point out the campus’ major landmarks and show you a few hidden gems off the beaten tourist path. The Frances Arrillaga Memorial, where you can experience the acoustic mysteries of the Whisper Circle, is a personal favourite.

I’m Alex Nazarkov, a local who’s spent the last several years living in the area. Our walk starts in front of the Stanford Oval before passing the Memorial Court, Stanford Art Gallery, White Memorial Fountain and Huang Engineering Centre to end in the Rodin Sculpture Garden. Along the way, you’ll learn about the university’s history, including founders Amasa Leland and Jane Stanford, hear about some popular student traditions, and see a few great pieces of architecture and art.

On this tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Learn why Stanford University is nicknamed “the farm”
• See some great Auguste Rodin sculptures including Burghers of Calais and Gates of Hell
• Discover the backstory behind Stanford’s Memorial Church and how it became a center for student religious life
• Find out about the Soviet dissident and novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who lived in Hoover Tower on the campus
• Stroll around the hidden Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden
• Hear some creepy stories about the rivalry between local university sports teams, including the custom where university band members carry a wooden casket across campus
• See the Stanford Clock Tower and its antique-style pendulum clock mechanism
• Learn about the university’s connection to Silicon Valley’s modern geniuses, like Hewlett and Packard of HP printers’ fame
• Feel like a giant roaming between planets in space thanks to Alicja Kwade’s Pars Pro Toto artwork in the Science & Engineering Quad Courtyard
• Browse through the Stanford University Bookstore

Even if you live here or have been to Stanford before, this 90-minute tour provides a valuable introduction to the university’s hidden corners and little-known stories.