Columbia University, Private research university in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, US
Columbia University is a research institution in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, with a campus of limestone and brick buildings surrounding Low Memorial Library. The central area spans six blocks along West 116th Street, with academic halls, libraries, and open green spaces.
Founded in 1754 as King's College under British rule, the institution adopted the name Columbia after the American Revolution in 1784. The campus moved from Lower Manhattan to Morningside Heights in 1897.
Students gather on the steps of Low Memorial Library, reading books or talking between classes. The atmosphere shifts from quiet concentration in the morning to animated conversation during midday breaks.
The campus is open to the public and visitors can walk through the main pathways and central plaza in front of the library. Most buildings are accessible only to students and staff during business hours.
Scientists here conducted the first uranium fission experiment in North America, which later led to involvement in the Manhattan Project. The experiment took place in 1939 in a laboratory on campus.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
