Stanford University, Research university in Stanford, California.
The 33-square-kilometer (8,180-acre) campus features sandstone buildings with red tile roofs, research centers across multiple disciplines, and 15 independent institutes conducting advanced scientific work.
Railroad industrialist Leland Stanford and his wife Jane founded the institution in 1885 as a memorial to their deceased son, welcoming its first students six years later in October 1891.
The institution educates students from more than 90 countries and shapes California's academic landscape while its graduates influence the global technology industry through leadership and innovation.
The grounds are freely accessible to visitors, though most buildings remain closed to the public. Guided tours depart regularly from the visitor center, providing access to main quadrangles and notable landmarks.
The research park established in 1951 laid the foundation for Silicon Valley by leasing campus land to technology companies, creating a model for university-industry collaboration replicated worldwide.
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