Founders' Rock facts for kids
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Founders' Rock
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Founders' Rock
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 Founders' Rock
Location in Oakland, California
Founders' Rock
Location in California
Founders' Rock
Location in the United States
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| Location | Berkeley, California |
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| MPS | University of California, Berkeley MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004642 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 25, 1982 |
On a busy corner in Berkeley, California, you can find a special spot called Founders' Rock. This rock is not just any rock. It's a place filled with history and stories about how the famous University of California, Berkeley and the city of Berkeley itself began. It's a small but very important landmark.
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The Story of Founders' Rock
Founders' Rock is located at the corner of Hearst Avenue and Gayley Road. It's a place where a big dream started.
Where the University Began
According to a story passed down through time, this is the exact spot where 12 important people stood. These people were the trustees of the College of California. This college was the very first idea for what would become the University of California, Berkeley.
On April 16, 1860, these trustees stood by this rock. They were there to officially claim the land they had just bought. This land would soon become the home of a major university. Imagine them standing there, looking at the empty land, dreaming of a future school!
How Berkeley Got Its Name
Founders' Rock also plays a part in how the city of Berkeley got its name. Another story says that in 1866, a man named Frederick Billings stood at this same spot. He was thinking about a poem by Bishop Berkeley.
The poem had a famous line: "Westward the course of empire takes its way." This line inspired Billings. He suggested naming the new city "Berkeley" after the bishop. This idea stuck, and that's how the city got its unique name.
A Special Landmark
Because of its importance, a special plaque was placed on Founders' Rock. This happened on Charter Day in 1896. Charter Day is a celebration of the university's founding. The plaque helps everyone remember the rock's role in the history of the university and the city.
Founders' Rock is a quiet reminder of the big plans and dreams that started in this very spot. It shows how a small rock can hold a lot of history.
