Stanford University

Stanford's Hoover Tower

Founded in 1891, Stanford is a leading American private research university situated near Palo Alto, California. The University's official name is in honor of the founder's only child who died of typhoid two months before his 16th birthday.

To the locals, the University is also known as the Farm, having been built in the former site of the founder's horse farm. Situated in 3,310 hectares of land, the campus is about 32 km. away from San Jose, California.

Stanford's Memorial Church is the University's architectural crown jewel and is one of my favorite churches in America. The building Romanesque design was dedicated in 1903 and has characteristic Byzantine in its details. Churches in the region of Venice inspire this non-denominational church.

"Die Luft der Freiheit weht" is the University's motto, which means "The wind of freedom blows." At the time of its inception, the University's founder visited Harvard and asks its president at that time how much it will cost the Stanfords to replicate Harvard in California, the amount was estimated at 15 million dollars. The rest is history.