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All the United States California Palo Alto Stanford Mausoleum

Stanford Mausoleum

Guarded by the Angel of Grief, the Stanford family tomb attracts an odd mix of halloween revelry and somber contemplation.

Palo Alto, California

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Rebecca Grossman-Kahn
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Front of the tomb  
Front of the tomb  
Collapsed in grief.   Anna Minster / Atlas Obscura User
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Stanford Family   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Angel of Grief statue.   Eirik Gumeny / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Originally planned as the site for Leland and Jane Stanford's grand mansion, the family changed their plans following the death of their young son, Leland Junior. Instead, they built a university that they named after him, and built a tomb near their recently completed cactus garden. Leland and Jane Stanford were later buried in the tomb alongside their son. The mysteries surrounding Jane's death by strychnine poisoning have never been completely solved.

The angel of grief statue lies just north of the mausoleum and was dedicated to Jane's brother.

Although rarely visited by tourists and locals, the mausoleum hosts annual Founder's Day ceremonies and raucous undergraduate halloween festivities. At the turn of the century, the Mausoleum was often visited by courting couples after a stroll through the cactus garden.

The place also appears to elicit spiritual responses. University archaeologists have found small shrines set up near the tomb, featuring candles, incense, saint statues, and prayers written on the back of homework papers.

The tomb was completed in 1889 and cost an equivalent of $2.3 million today. Four marble sphinxes flank the four corners. The Greek sphinx-women that were originally planned to go in the front of the mausoleum turned out to be a little too shapely for Mrs. Stanford's tastes, and were relegated to the back, while less offensive sphinxes took over in front.

Related Tags

Memento Mori Catacombs And Crypts

Know Before You Go

There is no lighting in the park at night. Bring a flashlight if venturing out in the evening to the mausolem.

Community Contributors

Added By

rebeccaclara

Edited By

hrnick, pinklittlerabbit600, Zilant, Eirik Gumeny...

  • hrnick
  • pinklittlerabbit600
  • Zilant
  • Eirik Gumeny
  • SEANETTA
  • breaingram
  • rayewingphoto
  • Anna Minster

Published

March 8, 2012

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  • http://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=43900
Stanford Mausoleum
Cactus Garden Path
Palo Alto, California, 94304
United States
37.436528, -122.169938
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