Sather Gate

This charming spot along Strawberry Creek is next to Sather Gate, the original entrance to campus from the south. The North and South Forks of Strawberry Creek initially formed the campus borders, with central campus established between the flowing waters. Redwood trees did not occur naturally along Strawberry Creek, although they grew abundantly in the Oakland Hills and in isolated patches throughout the East Bay Hills. The big redwoods at this location, as in other spots on campus, were transplanted from Mendocino County in 1905, so they have grown to this stature in just over a century. The beautiful brick building visible up creek is the Old Art Gallery, which is now being converted into a small concert hall. Take a moment to reflect on the way that the campus bustle mingles with the sound of the stream. You are a stone’s throw from the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement in the late 1960s. Everything comes together at this spot: politics, ecology, music, art.