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Columbia University Review

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Columbia University

Address: Morningside Heights, New York, NY, 10027 | Map It
Phone: 212/854-4900
www.columbia.edu

Category: Educational Institutions
Location: Upper West Side

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Fodor's Review:

Wealthy, private, Ivy League, New York's first college has a pedigree that has always attracted students. But for a visitor, the why-go resides within its campus, bucolic and quietly energetic at once. The main entrance is at 116th Street and Broadway, site of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. After walking past the "J-School" on your right, follow the herringbone-pattern brick pathway of College Walk to the main quadrangle, the focal point for campus life. (When you eventually leave, exit through the quad's south gate to West 11th Street's Frat Row, where brownstones housing Columbia's frats display quirky signs of collegiate pride.) Dominating the quad's south side is Butler Library (1934), modeled after the Roman Pantheon, which holds the bulk of the university's 8 million books. Looking north, you'll see Low Memorial Library, its steps presided over by Daniel Chester French's statue Alma Mater. Low is one of the few buildings you can enter (on weekdays), either to check out the former Reading Room and marble rotunda or pick up a map or take a campus tour at the visitor center. (Alternatively, you can visit Columbia's Web site ahead of time for a podcast and map covering architectural highlights.) North of the quad (near a cast bronze of August Rodin's Thinker) is the interdenominational St. Paul's Chapel, an exquisite little Byzantine-style dome church with salmon-color Guastavino tile vaulting inside. (This same design can be seen in Grand Central Terminal and many other buildings throughout the city.) Right across Broadway from Columbia's main gate lies the brick-and-limestone campus of women-only Barnard College (212/854-2014), which also gives tours.

Open: Visitor center weekdays 9-5. Tours begin at 1 weekdays from Room 213, Low Library
Subway: 1 to 116th St./Columbia University

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