The Birth Of Stanford

In 1876.Governor Leland Stanford bought 650acres land and started Farm. Went on buying the adjoining properties and finally he had 8,000 acres to his credit. Palo Alto (tall tree) farm was his favorite place. The tree is still there and later became the symbol of University and center piece of its official seal.
A great tragedy struck Leland, was the root cause in changing the design of academy of the world. Lelands lost their first son because of typhoid, that time they consoled each other saying ‘The children of California shall be our children!’
The Stanfords visited several great universities of the East to gather ideas. An urban legend, widely circulated on the Internet but untrue, describes the couple as poorly-dressed country bumpkins who decided to found their own university only after being rebuffed in their offer to endow a building at Harvard.
Stanfords carved their own rules: the university would be coeducational, non-denominational, when most were associated with a religious organization; and avowedly practical, producing ‘cultured and useful citizens.’ The first student body consisted of 559 men and women, and the original faculty of 15 was expanded to 49 for the second year. The Stanfords engaged Frederick Law Olmsted, the famed landscape architect who created New York’s Central Park, to design the physical plan for the university. Today Stanford stands as unique university in the world!
Stanford-today
Stanford has a rich tradition of fostering creativity and the arts. Among many programs open to the public are Stanford Lively Arts, who bring renowned performing arts to campus, and the Cantor Center, our world-class museum.
Athletics & Fitness
Stanford students compete in 35 varsity sports and 20 club sports. In addition, students, faculty and staff can participate in intramural sports and physical education courses, and enjoy state-of-the-art recreational facilities.
Student Life
Stanford is a residential university, with over 6100 undergraduates and 4300 graduates living on campus. Students have access not only to the extraordinary resources on campus but also to the Bay Area's many cultural and outdoor attractions.
Public Service
The Haas Center for Public Service connects academic study with public service to strengthen communities and develop effective public leaders. More than 70 student organizations and programs provide students with additional opportunities to serve.
Getting Around & Campus Safety
Biking is one of the most popular ways to get around campus. Other alternative transit includes the free Marguerite Shuttle and Zipcar car-share. Stanford's Department of Public Safety provides law enforcement, public safety and emergency services 24 hours a day.