- [Narrator] There are 36
acres in upper Manhattan that since 1897 have
been home to Columbia, and to generations of graduates. Though Columbia was already 140 years old when it moved uptown, it's
history and influence blossomed on the stately Morningside Heights campus that emerges as an intellectual oasis when you turn the corner off Broadway and enter through the
gates at 116th Street. 116th Street, that's our subway stop. We have our own mosaic tile art with books of wisdom and
torches of knowledge. For generations, students
have arrived here and knew they were home. This is Columbia's promenade. Not so long ago, it was an active street, with car traffic and horse
and buggies before that. Until 1953 that is, when New York city sold the
street to Columbia for $1,000. And then, it was closed off and became our popular
throughway, our college walk. (tranquil piano music) It's been decades since Columbia's sundial actually told anyone the date. It was installed in 1914,
when the class of 1885 gave it to Columbia
for their 25th reunion. Missing today, the 16-ton granite ball that used to tell the date
by casting the sun's shadow. It was removed for maintenance in 1946, and for some mysterious
reason, never returned. But maybe that's okay. In place of that missing
ball are students, friends and faculty, catching up, or just taking a pause to see the sunset behind Butler Library. Named after a college alum who
became university president, Butler is home to over two million humanities and history texts, tucked within its famed Butler stacks. Those who enter its front
doors are greeted by Athena, inviting them to a world of knowledge, or at least late nights pursuing it. While every student has
their favorite nook, all relish the grandeur and quiet hum of Wein Reference Room. Here, students come to study,
dream, and sometimes both. The Thinker, resting in
front of Philosophy Hall, a bronze casting from the Musee Rodin. He reminds us of our
aspirations to be intellectual, to be philosophers, to be deliberate thinking humans. You may not know that Rodin was inspired by Dante and the Divine Comedy
when he sculpted The Thinker. Dante, who's never left the Lit
Hum syllabus in a 100 years. Alexander Hamilton stands proudly, welcoming students to his
hall, home of the college. This 1776 alumnus led
our nation's revolution and still had time to reestablish
what was King's College into today's Columbia College. Famed for his oratory skills, Hamilton began a debate
club at the college with his roommate, practicing some of his first
essays with classmates. (uplifting music) No matter where you are on South Campus, you feel her presence,
both mysterious and warm. When she was first unveiled this goddess of wisdom was dazzling, covered completely in gold leaf. And students still
puzzle over the location of the hidden owl within her robes, a symbol of ways wisdom can be concealed or hidden from plain view. Did you know that Alma's sculptor later created the Lincoln Memorial and the Abraham Lincoln statue? Alma's not the only
popular figure on campus. The Columbia Lion makes its appearance in both high and low places,
and represents all Columbians. Lucky for us, the lion
narrowly beat a goat to become our school mascot during a vote by the Columbia College
Alumni Association in 1910. The Scholar's Lion has the biggest roar. Sculpted by alumnus Greg Wyatt, it was installed during
Columbia's 250th celebration in 2004. It's fitting to come
across The Great God Pan reclining on the lawn of Lewisohn Hall. It's hard to imagine this mythical deity in the lobby of the famed Dakota, where he was originally
destined to go in 1899. Pan has had his share of travels, from the 1904 St. Louis World Fair, to 120th and Amsterdam
overlooking a fountain, eventually making it here, the perfect grassy spot for
this impish pastoral character. (tranquil piano music) The steps of Low Library
in the light of dusk, it's magisterial and magical. Most of us see Low for what it is today, the central landmark of campus. But have you ever looked closely? Those columns, the lions that decorate the cornices, and the largest dome
of its kind in the U.S. Here's a fun fact, Amelia
Earhart's favorite spot on campus was up on that dome. Maybe that's where she got used to being high above the ground. It's incredible to think that
this magnificent building was the first to be built up
here on Morningside Heights, on what used to be crop fields. Architects McKim, Mead, and
White really got it right. Every time you walk up these steps, you can't help but feel uplifted and completely, utterly inspired. Our home in Morningside Heights has grown and changed over the years, shaped by students drawn to
this world of opportunity. And Columbia shapes us
and will stay with us. No matter where you are today,
or where you go tomorrow a part of this place
will always be with you.
