Interesting Facts

Combating the evils of Marxism was the driving force of the Hoover Institute, a post-World War I think-tank. Founded by Herbert Hoover, it is housed at Stanford University's Hoover Tower. The tower stands 280 feet tall and features a 48-bell carillon. The Hoover Institute's first nine floors store archived documents on social, political and economic issues. The institute continues to be a consortium of over 80 scholars dedicated to improving world peace, and researching the causes and consequences of war.
Fourteen houses. Three architectural styles. Both were essential in developing one of Palo Alto's most prestigious neighborhoods. Professorville, named for its proximity to Stanford University and the staff and faculty that lived there, showcases homes built in the Craftsman, Shingle and Colonial Revival styles. Most of the houses were constructed in the late 1800s and feature details like gambrel roofs, classic columns, bracketed eaves, exposed rafters and double-hung windows.
Hewlett Packard is an industry powerhouse, but the company's humble beginnings grew from a simple Palo Alto house garage. The structure is listed as a California Historic Landmark for its importance and significance in creating the foundation for the "Silicon Valley" craze.
As home to technological powerhouses like Xerox PARC and Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto has been called the birthplace of Silicon Valley. The moniker may be due to the city's university town ambiance, and the caliber of brainpower it packs in mathematics, engineering and medical research.
Is there really a local brain trust? If you're over 25 years old and living in Palo Alto, odds are you have at least one graduate degree. The city attracts smart people, and an average of over 60% of the local population has more than a four year college education.
Moving pictures were the rage in 1925, and this Palo Alto landmark celebrates the tradition. The Stanford Theater, located on University Avenue, is a true throwback. The d�cor is decadent and plush. While the management screens vintage silent movie favorites, moviegoers lounge in red mohair seats as the projector rolls and the theatre swells with the live sounds of a Wurlitzer theatre organ. Don't miss it.
As a leading area for the biotech business, it's no surprise that Palo Alto harbors a bevy of medical research and technology companies. Stanford Hospital is the Bay Area's leading medical center and, since the hospital is a teaching environment that also conducts research, it is considered top-notch.
Why go to Hollywood when luxury elite dining can be found in Palo Alto? Cuisine guru Wolfgang Puck has brought his culinary creations to Silicon Valley in the guise of a Spago restaurant. The menu is true Californian, and features seafood and lamb with touches like tamarind, pine nuts and pistachios. The d�cor is upscale and the clientele smart.
This institution of higher learning grooms some of the best minds in America, but Stanford University also boasts some extraordinary landmarks. It is home to one of the first national think tanks, the Hoover Institute; houses an example of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture at the Hanna House; and exhibits over 60 works of sculpture by artists such as Auguste Rodin, Joan Miro and George Segal.
Literate minds crave literature. And where other than college towns do marvelous bookstores crop up like crazy? Palo Alto's literary favorites include used and new book stores, and most of them are independents, as opposed to national chains.