Hoover Tower

The Red Barn

See the Stanford campus from the top of the Hoover Tower Observation Platform. Completed in 1941 to celebrate the University's 50th anniversary, the 285-foot tower is a landmark for students, alumni and the local community.

Visiting the Observation Platform

The observation platform is located on the 14th floor of Hoover Tower. When you step off the elevator be welcomed by a tour guide who is available to point out Stanford University landmarks and, on a clear day, sights around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Tower Trivia

At the top of the tower, visitors can see a carillon of 48 bells. The original 35 bells were cast of bronze in Tournai, Belgium, and were a gift of the Belgian-American Education Foundation. The largest bell of the original 35 is inscribed, "UNO PRO PACE SONO" which means "for peace alone do I ring."

Following a two-year refurbishment at the Royal Eijsbouts foundry in the Netherlands, the carillon returned to the tower in 2002. The restoration replaced eleven bells with newly cast ones and the addition of thirteen bells increased the instrument's range to four octaves. With a new keyboard and 48 bells tuned to concert pitch, the carillon makes beautiful music for special university events.

The lobby of the tower houses the Herbert Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover exhibits, which feature memorabilia from the careers and lives of the thirty-first U.S. president and his wife, both of whom were Stanford alumni.

The Herbert Hoover Memorial Exhibit Pavilion has exhibits open to the public and is located next to Hoover Tower. The exhibits are open Tuesday –Saturday from 11am–4pm.

Hoover Tower is part of the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, a Stanford-affiliated public policy research center founded by Herbert Hoover, a member of the University's pioneer class of 1895 and the 31st president of the United States.

ABOUT THE TOUR
Costs
  • Adults $3.00
  • Seniors (65 and older) $2.00
  • Children (12 and under) $2.00
    All children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18; no more than two children per adult.
  • Stanford students, faculty, and staff can bring up to 5 guests (with current Stanford ID) at no charge.
Schedule

Open 7 Days a week from 10am to 4:00pm

Please note that Hoover Tower will be closed September 21st-October 9th.
The following exceptions apply:

  • Observation deck and exhibits close at 4:00pm.
  • Last tickets sold at 3:50pm.
Reservations
  • No reservations required.
  • Individuals and groups may purchase tickets in the tower lobby.
  • Groups of 10 or more may purchase tickets for $2 per person.
Restrictions

Please note that strollers, skateboards, and backpacks or large bags are not allowed on the platform, and cannot be stored in the Hoover Tower lobby.

If traveling to Hoover Tower by wheelchair, please be aware of the ongoing construction in the area until Summer 2017. Signage in the area will help guide visitors to step-free paths. For additional information please visit http://maps.stanford.edu/ada/building-ada.cfm?FACIL_ID=03-100. 

Updated on September 2, 2015 11:17 AM