Cathedral of Learning

The Cathedral of Learning dominates the Oakland skyline with its forty-two-story gothic tower of Indiana limestone. Built during the nineteen-twenties, the structure was the dream of university chancellor John Bowman, who envisioned a skyscraper to house the entire university. Work halted during the Great Depression, forcing students to finish their degrees in half-constructed classrooms. Despite the lack of funds, children from across the city donated their nickels and dimes to keep the construction moving, cementing the tower as a community effort.