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.

Completed in 1941 to celebrate the university's 50th anniversary, the 285-foot structure is a landmark for students, alumni and the local community. The Hoover Tower Observation Platform is located on the fourteenth story of the tower and provides a panoramic view of the Stanford campus and the surrounding Bay Area.

Among the many highlights visible from the 250-foot high platform are the San Mateo and Dumbarton Bridges, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Moffett Federal Air Field. At the top of Hoover Tower, visitors can see a carillon of 48 bells cast in Tournai, Belgium, a gift of the Belgian-American Education Foundation. The largest bell is inscribed, "For Peace Alone Do I Ring."

The Observation Platform is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.—except during finals week, academic breaks, and the first week of classes—and a tour guide is available to answer questions.

To find out if the platform is open for visitors, please consult our Schedule of Services or call (650)723-2053. Please note that strollers, skateboards, and large bags or parcels are not allowed on the platform, and cannot be stored in the Hoover Tower lobby.

Admission fees to the Observation Platform:
General Public: $2.00
Seniors/Children under 13: $1.00
Stanford Faculty/Staff/Students with a valid Stanford ID and family members: Free
Groups of 10 or more may purchase tickets to the Observation Platform at half price.

The Hoover Tower lobby 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.

While visiting Hoover Tower, don't forget to stop by the Herbert Hoover Memorial Exhibit Pavilion, which offers changing exhibits from the Institution's archives on topics in modern history. The Pavilion's exhibits are free of charge and are open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., except during exhibit installation and holidays. For more information on these exhibits, call (650) 723-3563.