Campus History

1. Gatehouse -- was the grand entrance for the Stevens Castle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. William Hall Walker Gymnasium -- this unusual circular building became a reality in 1916 as a result of a $100,000 gift by Mr. Walker. At the dedication, the Stevens Football team clobbered Rensselaer 19-0.

3. Stevens steam locomotive -- In 1825, the first American built steam locomotive, incorporating Stevens' mulitubular boiler, ran on a circular railroad track on the Stevens estate. (Located where the Davis Athletic field is today.)

4. American Spread-Wing Eagle -- was created by the internationally renowned sculptor Pierre Bourdelle and given to Stevens in honor of the 125th anniversary of the university. It was donated by John R. and Phyllis Taylor and aided by gifts from Friends of the Library. It joins another large work by the artist-Safari-in the library's Great Hall.

5. Stevens Mobile -- located in the library, the mobile was created by Stevens alumnus and world renowned artist, Alexander Calder '19.

6. The Torch Bearers -- was presented to the university in April 1964. It was a gift to Stevens by the noted American sculptor, Anna Hyatt Huntington. Cast in aluminum, the stature stands 16 feet high.

7. Anchor -- In 1968, the "S.S. Stevens" -- a former attack transport and cruise liner -- began serving as a unique floating dormitory for Stevens on the banks of the Hudson River. It housed 150 students and featured six student lounges, a laundry room and game rooms. One of its anchors remains today on display along Wittpenn Walk.

8. Castle Point lookout -- the highest elevation in Hoboken at 100 feet. The green-veined, serpentine rock overlook was mentioned in the log by the navigator in Henry Hudson's ship Half Moon in 1609 as it journeyed up the river.

9. Cannon -- a pavilion was erected in Elysian Fields by Col. John Stevens in 1830 and later was turned into a hotel which faced the Hudson River. In 1888 when the hotel was torn down by the Stevens family, a cannon was excavated whose legend dated back to the Revolutionary War. It was believed to be brought over from France during the Revolution. It was placed on Castle Point where the Stevens Family resided and is still there as a protector of the Point.

10. Stevens Castle -- a 40 room Victorian mansion replaced the summer villa, erected by Colonel John Stevens in 1784. It was built by Robert Stevens in 1853 and was later purchased by the university in 1910 and used as administrative offices and residence for students, as well as a place to hold social activities. The Howe Center replaced the building in 1959.

11. Ghost -- The well known ghost, Jan of Rotterdam, was once a resident of Hoboken, whose life was cut short by an Indian raid. He is reputed to roam Castle Point on windy March nights looking for his missing scalp.

12. Underground Tunnels -- Three tunnels once existed under Castle Point. One was used to bring supplies from the river so that the Stevens family would not be disturbed by this activity. Another tunnel connected the Castle to the southern side of the Point where a greenhouse and boiler room were located. Pipes brought in heat through this tunnel and flowers could by carried to the house from the greenhouse without exposing them to the elements. The third tunnel was short and ended up in a root cellar. The passages are all caved in now and the entrances are bricked up.

13. Sybil's Cave -- Before Stevens was built, Sybil's Cave was located at the base of the serpentine outcropping between Eight and Ninth Streets along the Hudson River. The cave was major tourist attraction featuring on large room and a natural spring, whose mineral water was sold as a curative beverage for a penny a glass. (A murder there provided material for Edgar Allen Poe's Mystery of Marie Roget.)

14. Hoxie House -- In 1929, William D. Hoxie, Class of 1889, bequeathed $50,000 for the construction of the residence of presidents of Stevens. At the laying of the cornerstone for Hoxie House, President Herbert Hoover sent his congratulations.

15. Seal -- The university was founded in 1870 as America's first college of mechanical engineering, with a bequest from Edwin Augustus Stevens. On the seal is the Latin motto: Per aspera ad astra, or Through adversity to the stars.

16. Elysian Fields -- Owned by the Stevens family and located just north of the campus, it is believed to be the site of the first modern-day baseball game on September 23, 1845. The original New York baseball clubs first played The New York Game, today's form of Baseball at Elysian Fields. The New York Knickerbockers Base Ball Club came to play there because there were no parks in lower Manhattan.

17. Wealthy New Yorkers would come over to Hoboken -- In the 1800's Hoboken was a popular summer resort for wealthy New Yorkers. They would take advantage of the ferry service begun by Col. John Stevens to spend an afternoon walking in Elysian Fields.

18. Davidson Laboratory -- has the largest wave tank complex of any U.S. university. It is one of the world's best known hydrodynamic and ocean engineering research centers, and has played a role in virtually every major maritime and coastal engineering advance, from developing the modern submarine to re-engineering the capabilities of the Apollo space capsules.

19. Carnegie Building -- Millionaire industrialist Andrew Carnegie gave $225,000 in the early 1900s for the building of the Engineering Laboratory for Stevens. It is the home today of the Design & Manufacturing Institute.

20. Edwin A. Stevens Building (EAS Building) -- was constructed in 1870 as the main building for the campus. This federally registered landmark was designed by Richard Upjohn, whose work includes the Trinity Church in Manhattan. It was known as the Administration Building or "A" building until 1987 when it was rededicated as the Edwin A. Stevens Building. In celebration of Stevens' 125th anniversary, a 40 foot spire was placed atop the building and dedicated to Dr. Leo C. Cunniff '50. Today, it is the home of the Schaefer School of Engineering.

21. Freshmen -- Before the practice ended at Stevens in the 70s, freshman had to wear dinks/beanies, a red bow tie and one black and one white shoe as well as perform other general pranks, sometimes for as long as eight weeks.

22. Frank Sinatra Drive -- this scenic road runs along the Hudson River and was dedicated to Old Blue Eyes after he received an honorary degree from Stevens. It was previously known as River Road. Sinatra was born in Hoboken.

23. Building Technology Laboratory -- Built to evaluate a mechanical system which was part of a government program to reduce installation cost by 25 percent. One of the systems evaluated is now used in most hotel construction in the United States. An early experiment in the facility involved more than 20 bathrooms.