University of California, Berkeley, Research university in Berkeley, United States

The University of California, Berkeley is a public research institution spread across roughly 1,232 acres on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. From several elevated points, visitors can see the bay, the bridge, and the city skyline in the distance.

The institution opened in 1868 as the first campus of the University of California system under a federal act from 1862. Over the following decades, it grew into a center for science and political engagement.

Students gather daily at Sproul Plaza to debate ideas, hand out petitions, and participate in spontaneous demonstrations. This open atmosphere shapes campus life and makes public discourse a visible part of everyday routine.

The campus can be explored on foot, though some paths slope upward and comfortable shoes are recommended. Several libraries and museums are open to visitors and offer glimpses into research and collections.

In the labs and offices here, 16 chemical elements were discovered, more than at any other location in the world. Traces of this research remain visible today in buildings around the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

• Location: Berkeley
• Inception: March 23, 1868
• Operator: University of California, Berkeley
• Part of: University of California
• Address: 200 California Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720
• Phone: [phone]
• Website: https://berkeley.edu
• GPS coordinates: 37.87194,-122.25833
• Latest update: December 15, 2025 15:24