Alma Mater

Alma Mater is a bronze sculpture on the steps of the Low Memorial Library at Columbia University in Manhattan, New York City. The seated figure in academic robes holds an open book on her lap and a staff in her right hand, while her gaze is directed across the campus.

Daniel Chester French created the sculpture in 1901 and it was installed on campus in September 1903. The work came as a gift from an alumnus and is one of the sculptor's best-known pieces, who later also designed the Lincoln Memorial.

The Latin name means nourishing mother, a term once used for universities. The figure wears an oak leaf crown and holds a scepter, while students often look for the hidden owl in the folds of the robe, believing it brings luck during exams.

The sculpture stands directly in front of the library entrance on a wide staircase that is a popular meeting point for students. The area is accessible around the clock, with the best time to visit in the morning when fewer people are sitting on the steps.

The sculptor hid a small owl in the folds of the robe that is only visible from a certain angle. Many visitors do not know that the sculpture was spray-painted several times during protests in the 1960s and 1970s and had to be restored afterward.

Location: Manhattan

Location: New York City

Inception: 1904

Creator: Daniel Chester French

GPS coordinates: 40.80783,-73.96213

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28