Founder’s Rock

This monumental rock is located in the northeastern corner of campus, by Hearst Avenue and Gayley Road. This location marks where the 12 founders of the University of California met on April 16, 1860 to dedicate this land for their new campus.

Charter Day

In 1866, a new group of men from the College of California gathered around Founder’s Rock to decide on a name for the new campus that would be built below the rock. They decided on the name “Berkeley” after they had read an inspirational poem by the Irish Philosopher, George Berkeley, to mark the occasion. The poem is as follows:

A few short years later, on March 23, 1868, the University of California was officially founded. This day mark’s the University’s Charter Day, or it’s founding. Charter Day is celebrated every year, and has recently extended to a week-long celebration where the UC Rally Committee works with various campus groups to organize and run several fun activities throughout the week.

The school’s site was purchased in 1858, and dedicated in 1860 at Founder’s Rock. While the trustees to the College of California had the teachers, the land, and the students, they didn’t have the money to fund the college.  Luckily, President Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act in 1862 granting funding for higher institutes of learning, provided they taught agriculture, mechanical arts, and military instruction. The State of California used this act to found its own Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College in 1866. However, while the state had money, that was about all it had. The two institutions joined forces to become the University of California, with the College of California becoming the College of Letters within the University.  The Organic Act officially established the University, and was signed by Governor Henry H. Haight.