University of Washington Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near University of Washington (UW)
Why Walk University of Washington Campus
The University of Washington's Seattle campus occupies 703 acres between Portage Bay and the University District, built on the grounds of the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Liberal Arts Quadrangle (the Quad) is the architectural centerpiece — four Collegiate Gothic brick buildings surrounding a lawn famous for its Yoshino cherry trees that bloom spectacularly each March. Suzzallo Library, with its soaring Cathedral-like Graduate Reading Room (65 feet high, with oak trusses and stained glass), is often called the 'soul of the university.' The Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering occupies the Bill & Melinda Gates Center and the Paul G. Allen Center. Husky Stadium sits on the shores of Lake Washington with Mount Rainier views on clear days. Red Square, a brick-paved plaza, connects the library to Kane Hall and Odegaard Library.
About University of Washington
Founded
1861
Type
Public research university (flagship of the state of Washington system; member of the Association of American Universities since 1950)
Setting
Urban. The 703-acre Seattle campus sits in the University District neighborhood, bordered by Portage Bay and Union Bay (Lake Washington Ship Canal) to the south and Ravenna to the north, about 4 miles northeast of downtown Seattle.
Enrollment
About 60,000 students across three campuses (Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma); the Seattle campus enrolls roughly 50,000, with around 36,000 undergraduates.
Mascot
Dubs, a live Alaskan Malamute (the costumed version is "Harry the Husky"); athletic teams are the Huskies.
Free University of Washington Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free University of Washington campus tour with audio narration. Explore Suzzallo Library, The Quad, Husky Stadium, plus hidden spots like The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture and Sylvan Grove, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Spots at University of Washington
- •Suzzallo Library — a Collegiate Gothic masterpiece with the Cathedral-like Graduate Reading Room, 65 feet high with stained glass and oak trusses
- •The Quad — four Gothic buildings framing a lawn of Yoshino cherry trees that create a spectacular canopy of pink blossoms each March
- •Husky Stadium — a 70,000-seat stadium on the shore of Lake Washington, where sailboats dock for 'sailgating' on game days
- •Drumheller Fountain (Frosh Pond) — a fountain on the main axis of campus framing a perfect view of Mount Rainier on clear days
Signature Architecture
- •Suzzallo Library — Collegiate Gothic library opened in 1926, designed by the firm of Charles Bebb and Carl F. Gould. The Graduate Reading Room runs roughly 250 feet long with 65-foot vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows; President Henry Suzzallo envisioned the library as 'the soul of the University.'
- •Drumheller Fountain (Frosh Pond) — Built for the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, whose landscape plan by the Olmsted Brothers shaped the campus. On clear days it frames a direct view of Mount Rainier down Rainier Vista.
- •Denny Hall — The oldest building on campus, completed in 1895 in French Renaissance/Chateauesque style. Named for Arthur Denny, a founder of Seattle who helped establish the original university.
- •Husky Stadium — Football stadium opened in 1920 on the shore of Lake Washington (Union Bay), seating about 70,000. Known for 'sailgating' — fans arrive by boat and dock nearby on game days.
- •Mary Gates Hall — Building named for the late Mary Gates, mother of Microsoft's Bill Gates and a UW regent; houses undergraduate academic and advising programs.
Hidden Corners of University of Washington
- •The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture — a new building (2019) housing Pacific Northwest natural history, paleontology, and indigenous art collections
- •Sylvan Grove — a hidden column-ringed clearing in the woods on the south side of campus, a remnant of the 1909 Exposition
Notable Alumni
- •Bruce Lee (attended UW in the early 1960s)
- •Bonnie Dunbar (NASA astronaut, five Space Shuttle missions)
- •Hope Solo (Olympic gold-medal goalkeeper, US women's soccer)
- •Rainn Wilson (actor, 'The Office')
- •Kenny Easley (NFL Hall of Fame safety, Seattle Seahawks)
- •Dawn Wells (actress, 'Gilligan's Island')
Campus Traditions
- •Cherry blossoms in the Quad: roughly 30 Yoshino cherry trees, relocated to the Quad in the 1960s, bloom in mid-to-late March and draw thousands of visitors.
- •Sailgating before Husky Stadium football games — fans tailgate by boat on Lake Washington and Union Bay.
- •Singing 'Bow Down to Washington,' the fight song written in 1915, at games and campus events.
- •Dawg Daze: a week of welcome events for new students at the start of fall quarter.
- •Tossing coins into Drumheller Fountain, with being thrown into the fountain a long-running campus prank tradition.
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •The Ave (University Way NE): the main student strip with cheap eats — Thai Tom for wok-fired Thai is a longtime favorite.
- •U:Don for udon and Aladdin Gyro-Cery for gyros on the Ave, both student staples.
- •Portage Bay Cafe near campus for popular breakfast and brunch with a build-your-own pancake bar.
- •Husky Union Building (the HUB) food court on campus for between-class meals.
- •Agua Verde Cafe on Portage Bay for Mexican food and kayak rentals on the water.
Did you know? Red Square, the brick plaza in front of Suzzallo Library, is built directly over the Central Plaza parking garage — and its freestanding brick towers are decorative ventilation shafts for the garage below, not historic structures.
Visiting University of Washington
The UW Visitor Center is in Odegaard Undergraduate Library; the Office of Admissions runs free campus info sessions and student-led walking tours (about 90 minutes) on weekdays — reserve online in advance, as walk-up availability is limited. Self-guided tour maps are available year-round. Public visitor parking is paid; the largest lot is the Central Plaza Garage beneath Red Square. Light rail makes visiting easy: the U District and University of Washington (Husky Stadium) stations on Sound Transit's Link 1 Line drop you at the campus edge.
Walking Tip
Start at Red Square, enter the Suzzallo Reading Room, then walk through the Quad. Continue south to Drumheller Fountain for the Rainier view. The campus is hilly in parts. The University District ('the Ave') borders campus for dining.
Best Time to Visit
Late March for cherry blossoms in the Quad — the most photographed event on campus. Clear days reveal Mount Rainier from Drumheller Fountain. Fall for football season. Summers are dry and sunny.
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