Emory University Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near Emory University (Emory)
Why Walk Emory University Campus
Emory's campus sits on 630 acres in the leafy Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, designed by architect Henry Hornbostel in an Italian Renaissance style using locally quarried pink and gray Georgia marble. The Quadrangle, anchored by the Asa Griggs Candler Library, is the historic heart. The Michael C. Carlos Museum, redesigned by Michael Graves in 1993, houses collections of ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Americas. The Goizueta Business School occupies a modern complex on the north side of campus. The Rollins School of Public Health and the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing connect to the adjacent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus. Lullwater Preserve, a 185-acre nature preserve, extends from the southeast edge of campus.
About Emory University
Founded
1836 (chartered as Emory College in Oxford, Georgia; the Atlanta campus was established in 1915)
Type
Private research university, historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church
Setting
Main campus is in the Druid Hills area, about 6 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, in unincorporated DeKalb County bordering the city of Atlanta.
Enrollment
Approximately 15,000-16,000 students total (roughly 7,000 undergraduates and 8,000+ graduate and professional students)
Mascot
Dooley, the Spirit of Emory (a skeleton, also called the Lord of Misrule); athletic teams are the Eagles, historically competing in NCAA Division III as part of the University Athletic Association
Free Emory University Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free Emory University campus tour with audio narration. Explore The Quadrangle, Michael C. Carlos Museum, Candler Library, plus hidden spots like Lullwater Preserve and Dooley, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Spots at Emory University
- •The Quadrangle — Emory's central quad in pink Georgia marble, anchored by the Candler Library with its classical colonnade
- •Michael C. Carlos Museum — Michael Graves's postmodern building housing significant collections of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and pre-Columbian art
- •Candler Library — the 1926 neoclassical library with a grand reading room, the architectural centerpiece of the Quad
- •Goizueta Business School — a modern complex named for Coca-Cola CEO Roberto Goizueta, reflecting Emory's deep ties to the company
Signature Architecture
- •Robert W. Woodruff Library — Main campus library, named for the longtime Coca-Cola leader; the Woodruff family's 1979 gift of about $105 million to Emory was the largest single gift to an American university at the time.
- •Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church — Completed in 1931 in a Neoclassical/Georgian style with a tall steeple; it doubles as an auditorium for university events and commencement.
- •Michael C. Carlos Museum — Houses one of the Southeast's largest collections of ancient art, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern works; its 1985 expansion was designed by architect Michael Graves.
- •Candler Library — Opened in 1926 as the original campus library, built in the marble-and-red-tile-roof style that architect Henry Hornbostel established for Emory's historic quadrangle.
Hidden Corners of Emory University
- •Lullwater Preserve — a 185-acre forested preserve with walking trails, a suspension bridge, and a 1920s Tudor mansion on the estate's grounds
- •Dooley — a skeleton mascot stored in the biology department who 'rules' Emory; look for the tradition's traces across campus buildings
Notable Alumni
- •Newt Gingrich (former U.S. Speaker of the House; earned his B.A. from Emory in 1965)
- •Kenneth Cole (fashion designer; graduated from Emory in 1976)
- •Bobby Jones (golf legend who studied law at Emory)
- •Alben W. Barkley (35th U.S. Vice President under Truman, who attended Emory College in Oxford, Georgia)
Campus Traditions
- •Dooley's Week, a spring festival where 'Dooley,' a student in a skeleton costume, roams campus and can dismiss classes by appearing in them
- •Coca-Cola heritage, rooted in the deep ties of Asa Candler and Robert Woodruff to the school, which is why Coke products are ubiquitous on campus and Pepsi is famously hard to find
- •Songfest, a long-running campus singing competition tied to homecoming
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •Emory Village, the small commercial district just off campus with restaurants like Saba
- •Cox Hall food court on campus, with multiple stations
- •Emory Point, an adjacent mixed-use development with chain and local restaurants
- •Decatur Square, a short drive east, for a wider sit-down restaurant scene
Did you know? Emory was transformed by Coca-Cola money: Asa Griggs Candler, who built the Coca-Cola company, donated land and $1 million in 1914 to bring Emory to Atlanta, and later Coca-Cola stock gifts from the Woodruff family funded much of the modern university, which is why finding a Pepsi product on campus is notoriously difficult.
Visiting Emory University
Prospective students can register for official campus visits through the Emory Office of Admission, which offers information sessions and guided, student-led walking tours; book in advance via admission.emory.edu. Self-guided visitors can walk the historic quad freely. Visitor parking is available in campus decks such as the Fishburne and Oxford Road decks (paid/hourly). The Michael C. Carlos Museum is open to the public with an admission fee.
Walking Tip
The main campus is compact and walkable. Start at the Quad, visit the Carlos Museum, then walk southeast to Lullwater Preserve for the trails. The CDC campus is adjacent but requires separate security clearance.
Best Time to Visit
Spring (March-April) for azaleas and dogwoods. Fall for pleasant Atlanta weather and foliage. Dooley's Week in April is Emory's biggest campus tradition.
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