Letters, Science, Art
Rice University
When Rice opened in 1912, students paid no tuition at all, as founder William Marsh Rice's will and the institute's first charter required.
- 10Buildings
- 5Traditions
- 1912Oldest · Lovett Hall
- 2017Newest · Moody Center for the Arts
Campus map and Look Around
Tap a numbered pin to see that building from the street with Apple Look Around.
Planning the visit
- Fly intoWilliam P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Hobby is the closer of Houston's two main airports to Rice. George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) has many more long-haul flights but is a longer drive north.
- Getting aroundWalking / METRORail Red Line
The wooded campus is easy to walk. The METRORail Red Line runs along Main Street, with the Hermann Park/Rice U station near the campus's eastern corner.
- Colors and teams
The mascot is Sammy the Owl: when Texas A&M students stole the owl mascot in 1917, a detective's coded telegram reported that 'Sammy is fairly well.' The colors are blue and gray.
10 buildings to stamp
-
Lovett Hall
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Ralph Adams Cram's firm designed Rice's landmark first building, the asymmetrical Administration Building completed in 1912. Graduating students leave the university through its arched Sallyport.
- Built
- 1912
- Architect
- Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson
- Style
- Mediterranean Revival
- Today
- Administration
-
Photo: Leonard Lane, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Fondren Library
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Houston architect John F. Staub designed Rice's main library, dedicated in 1949 and funded by the family of Humble Oil co-founder Walter Fondren. It was known for its open stacks and Art Deco touches.
- Built
- 1949
- Architect
- John F. Staub
- Style
- Art Deco-influenced
- Today
- Library
-
Herzstein Hall
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson designed this 1914 building as Rice's physics hall, one of the first on the Academic Quad. Its amphitheater was the largest on campus when it was built.
- Built
- 1914
- Architect
- Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson
- Style
- Mediterranean Revival
- Today
- Classrooms and Amphitheater
-
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Maxfield Hall
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Built in 1912 as the Mechanical Laboratory and power house, crowned by a tall campanile, this was the second building on campus. Renovated and renamed Maxfield Hall in 2021, it now houses the statistics department.
- Built
- 1912
- Architect
- Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson
- Style
- Mediterranean Revival
- Today
- Statistics Department
-
Cohen House
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
William Ward Watkin, Rice's supervising architect, designed this faculty club, completed in 1927 with a gift honoring Robert and Agnes Cohen. It was the first building in Texas built as a university faculty club.
- Built
- 1927
- Architect
- William Ward Watkin
- Today
- Faculty Club
-
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons First Community Stadium
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Opened in 1950 with 70,000 seats, Rice's football stadium hosted President Kennedy's "We choose to go to the Moon" speech in 1962 and Super Bowl VIII in 1974.
- Built
- 1950
- Architect
- Hermon Lloyd & W. B. Morgan; Milton McGinty
- Today
- Football Stadium
-
Photo: 2C2K Photography, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Tudor Fieldhouse
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Opened in 1950 as Rice Gymnasium, this arena was renamed for alumnus Bobby Tudor, who led its renovation. Its court, Autry Court, is home to Owls basketball and volleyball.
- Built
- 1950
- Today
- Basketball and Volleyball Arena
-
Reckling Park
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Jackson & Ryan designed the Owls' baseball park, opened in 2000 on the site of Cameron Field. The team that won the 2003 College World Series played its home games here.
- Built
- 2000
- Architect
- Jackson & Ryan
- Today
- Baseball Stadium
-
Moody Center for the Arts
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Los Angeles architect Michael Maltzan designed this arts center, opened in 2017 with studio classrooms, a makerspace and gallery space for visiting artists.
- Built
- 2017
- Architect
- Michael Maltzan
- Today
- Arts Center
-
Photo: U.S. Department of State from United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Baker Hall
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
Completed in 1997, Baker Hall houses Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, a think tank founded in 1993 and named for former Secretary of State James A. Baker III.
- Built
- 1997
- Today
- Public Policy Institute
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5 traditions to check off
Stamped! keeps these as a checklist, so you can tick each one off on the visit.
Through the Sallyport
By tradition, Rice students pass through the Sallyport arch in Lovett Hall as they leave at graduation and avoid it until then. Stand under the arch and look across the Academic Quad.
Skyspace at Sunset
James Turrell's Twilight Epiphany Skyspace puts on a free light show at sunrise and sunset, as changing colored light transforms the sky seen through its roof opening. Arrive early for a seat.
The Moon Speech Stadium
In 1962 President Kennedy spoke at Rice Stadium and challenged the nation to reach the Moon by the end of the decade. Visit the stadium where the famous speech was given.
The Marching Owl Band
The Marching Owl Band, or MOB, is a scatter band: instead of marching in formation, it performs comic skits at football games. Catch its halftime show.
A Tree for Every Student
More than 4,000 trees and shrubs make the whole campus an arboretum, which gave rise to the legend that Rice has a tree for every student. Stroll the shady quads.
History
Founded 1891
From Wikipedia
William Marsh Rice University, also known as Rice University, is a private research university in Houston, Texas, United States. Established in 1912, it spans 300 acres. The university consists of eight constituent schools in the fields of architecture, business, continuing studies, engineering, humanities, music, natural sciences, and social sciences.
The app's quiz · 10 questions
How well do you know Rice University?
The same quiz as in Stamped!: name the landmark, its architect, its style or the year it was finished. Every round is different.
Know Rice University well?
Students and alumni know the traditions best. Suggest one we're missing, a building worth a stamp, or a fix. Every suggestion is checked against a source before it goes into the app.
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Stamp all 10 on your visit.
Tour Rice University in 3D before you go, add it to a college road trip and earn a passport stamp at every building. Free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on theApp Store