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Founders Celebration

About Founders' Celebration

Founders’ Celebration commemorates the founding of the University and the legacy of the Stanford family. This is an opportunity for all members of the Stanford community—students, faculty, and staff—together with members of neighboring communities to join in celebration of the success of Jane and Leland Stanford’s dream to establish a "university of high degree."

More about the Founders

Serra Mall images from past to present

Stanford History

In 1876, California Governor Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane, purchased 650 acres of El Rancho San Francisquito, the perfect location to develop a stock farm for trotting horses.

Ultimately, this land would become the site of one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the world: Stanford University.

Learn more about Stanford history
Brewster C- Spring Landau carriage

The Stanford Family Carriage

The Brewster C- Spring Landau carriage was the most formal of the three carriages owned by the Stanfords. President Benjamin Harrison rode in it when he visited the West Coast in 1891. Learn about the Stanford family carriage. 

The Stanford Family Carriage