Pomona College

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Tours

1. Pomona College Tour

   Take our self-guided, virtual campus tour.

   Stops

   1. Oldenborg Hall and Sumner Hall

      Welcome! Thank you for visiting Pomona College. We're here to help you explore the campus and to discover what distinguishes Pomona from other colleges. You can read the text for each stop, or click on our audio tour to hear senior Nick Lawson narrate.

       

      You are starting the campus tour in front of the Oldenborg Center for International Relations and Modern Languages. Oldenborg is a unique dorm that houses 147 students who are studying foreign languages. There are halls for Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish, with an additional two halls – Italian and Arabic – offered based on student interest. Students live with language residents, who are graduate students from a country where the respective language is spoken natively. 

       

      Additionally, Oldenborg has a dining hall that serves international food. At lunch, students practice their foreign language skills at tables representing 24 languages, each designated by a country’s flag. The Center features lunchtime lectures on international topics, and the Oldenborg Theatre is a gathering place where students watch international films.
      Directly behind you is Sumner Hall, the College's oldest building. When Pomona College was started in 1887, the founders planned to build the school in nearby Pomona, California. Meanwhile in Claremont, a hotel was built near the end of a land boom. The hotel owners offered this building – which is now Sumner Hall -- to the College, and we stayed put while deciding to keep our original name. 

       

      Sumner Hall, moved and reoriented from its original nearby location many years ago, is now home to the Office of Admissions, the Office of Study Abroad, and the Office of Campus Life. 

   2. Mudd-Blaisdell Hall, Frank Dining and Seaver Theatre Complex

      The largest dormitory on campus, Mudd-Blaisdell, houses 280 students in singles, doubles and suites. It has recreational rooms and courtyards where students can read, hang out or enjoy the sun. 

       

      Currently, we're on South Campus, the part of Pomona College that lies below Sixth Streeth. Mostly first-year and sophomore students live on South Campus. First-year students live in sponsor groups consisting of 10 to 20 first-years and two or three returning-student sponsors, who act as mentors. The sponsor group program is designed to help new students make a successful transition to college life.
      Another dormitory, Gibson Hall, is located in the courtyard of Mudd-Blaisdell. It houses 36 students in 21 rooms. Mudd-Blaisdell and Gibson, like all dorms at Pomona, are coed. Pomona is a very residential campus. 97 to 98% of students choose to here for all four years.

       

      As you walk back down Bonita Avenue the east, you'll see Frank Dining Hall, one of three dining halls on campus. In addition to our dining halls, Pomona students may also eat at the four dining halls located at the other Claremont Colleges. One of the great things about our dining halls is you’ll always see professors having a meal with students.

       

      At the eastern end of Bonita Avenue is the Byron Dick Seaver Theatre. It opened in 1990, and features many theatre performances throughout the year. There’s a 350-seat theatre, a smaller blackbox theatre, classrooms, a design studio, scene shop, recording studio, and makeup and dressing rooms.

       

      Walking slightly to the east, you'll find Frank Hall. One of three dining halls on campus, Frank serves most of South Campus’ residents. Pomona students may eat at any dining hall on campus, the student-run snack bar called the Coop, or dining halls on the other Claremont campuses as a part of their college meal plan. At the eastern end of Bonita Avenue is the Byron Dick Seaver Theatre, which opened in 1990. The theatre complex includes Seaver Auditorium, which seats 350, the Virginia Princehouse Allen black box theatre, classrooms and design spaces.

   3. Pendleton Dance Center and Pool

      As you proceed to the west along Bonita Avenue, you can see The Pendleton Dance Center and Pool located to the south through the courtyard. The Pendleton Dance Center has two fully equipped dance studios. Next to the Center is the Pendleton Pool, one of two pools on campus. 

   4. Harwood, Lyon and Lebus Courts

      You are now at Harwood Court, a dormitory that houses 164 students that was constructed in 1921 and renovated in 2010. Lyon Court, a residence hall located directly behind Harwood Court, was completed in 1990. The dormitory is composed entirely of large doubles and houses 82 students. Wig Hall, just west of Harwood, provides housing for 106 students in single and double rooms. All three house first-year students, their sponsors, and other students at Pomona.

       

      Directly across Bonita Avenue from Harwood is Lebus Court. It was built in 1915, the first building in the Pomona Valley devoted solely to art. It houses classrooms, the Art and Art History faculty, and the Visual Resources Center. 

      Lyon Court, a residence hall located directly behind Harwood Court, was completed in 1990. The dormitory is composed entirely of large doubles and houses 82 students. Wig Hall, just west of Harwood, provides housing for 106 students in single and double rooms. All three house first-year students, their sponsors, and other students at Pomona.

       

      Directly across Bonita Avenue from Harwood is Lebus Court, built in 1915, the first building in the Pomona Valley devoted solely to art. It houses the classrooms, the Art and Art History faculty, and a Visual Resources Center. 

   5. Rembrandt Hall, Museum of Art and Thatcher Music Hall

      Walk down the path to the left of Lebus Court to enter Lyon Garden. The buildings surrounding the gardens house Pomona’s Art, Art History, and Music Departments. On the south side of the courtyard you will see Rembrandt Hall and the Pomona College Museum of Art. Rembrandt Hall currently houses all of the studio art classes, such as photography, drawing, painting, and sculpture. They are accessible to all students enrolled in art classes, regardless of major, 24 hours a day. Located in the southeast corner of the courtyard, The Museum of Art showcases student and faculty art shows, and mounts a number of traveling shows and exhibitions throughout the year, including the senior showcase for graduating art majors. On Thursday evenings, the community gathers for Art After Hours, featuring different art and music events.

       

      Walk down the path to the left of Lebus Court to enter Lyon Garden. The buildings surrounding the garden house Pomona’s Art, Art History, and Music Departments. On the south side of the courtyard you will see Rembrandt Hall and the Pomona College Museum of Art.

       

      Rembrandt Hall currently houses all of the studio art classes, such as photography, drawing, painting, and sculpture. They are accessible to all students enrolled in art classes, regardless of major, 24 hours a day, and majors get to use their own studio space. The Museum of Art mounts a number of exhibitions throughout the year, including the senior showcase for graduating art majors. It also offers interns the opportunity to curate shows. On Thursday evenings, students and other community members gather for Art After Hours, which features different events like live music, art workshops, and lectures.

       

      Walk through the Thatcher Music Hall on the northern side of the courtyard. It is the location of Pomona’s Music Department, classrooms, offices, and practice rooms. Students can take a wide variety of courses, from the History of Jazz to music theory to performance classes, and can audition for the Orchestra, Band, Jazz Ensemble, Glee Club and Balinese Gamelan. The music facilities are accessible to all Pomona students, as are private music and voice lessons, which are available to students on financial aid or majoring in music for free. Thatcher is also the home of The Claremont Colleges’ on-campus radio station, KSPC 88.7 FM, broadcasting since 1956. Students can volunteer as DJs, promoters, newscasters and other positions.

      
      As you exit the Thatcher Music Hall, take a look to your right. The Bridges Hall of Music is one of the architectural gems of the Pomona College campus. Known as Little Bridges, it was built in 1915 and is home to dozens of musical events each year, including many featuring student musicians , as well as ceremonies like Convocation, which welcomes the newest class of first-years to campus.

       

      As you exit the Thatcher Music Hall, take a look to your right. The Bridges Hall of Music is one of the architectural gems of the Pomona College campus. Known as Little Bridges, it was built in 1915 and is home to dozens of musical events each year, as well as ceremonies like Convocation.

   6. Carnegie Hall and President's House

      You are now standing in front of Carnegie, which is home to the Politics, Economics, International Relations, Public Policy Analysis, and Philosophy, Politics and Economics departments. Built in 1908, it was originally Pomona’s first library building, made possible by a gift from Andrew Carnegie. In 1952, the collection was moved to a shared Claremont Colleges’ library and Carnegie became an academic building.

       

      Behind Carnegie Hall is Hahn. Completed in 1998, it is home to the Anthropology,  Latin American Studies and Sociology Departments. It also houses the Pacific Basin Institute, which has an archive and programming devoted to the study of the Asia-Pacific region, just one of the many ways Pomona College helps its students examine global issues. 

       

      Looking south, you'll notice The President's House at the southwest corner of College Avenue and 4th Street. It’s been the home of Pomona’s Presidents since 1900, and is currently the residence of President David Oxtoby. When first-year students arrive on campus, President Oxtoby invites the entire class to a barbecue in his backyard. President Oxtoby also holds office hours and hosts dinner for every graduating senior over the course of their last year, and you’ll often see him at events on campus.

       

      Looking across the street to the east, you'll see a lovely view of Marston Quad and Bridges Auditorium. We'll discuss those locations on a later tour stop.

   7. The Academic Quad

      This is the Stanley Academic Quad. Mason Hall, to the west, houses History, Romance Languages and Literatures, Asian Languages and Literatures, Asian Studies, German Studies, and Russian Studies. Crookshank Hall, in the middle, is home to Pomona’s English and Gender and Women’s Studies departments, as well as the Media Studies program. The Ena Thompson Reading Room in Crookshank often has readings and other literary events. Facing College Avenue on the eastern side of the quad, Pearsons Hall is our oldest academic building on campus. It was originally built in 1899 and is home to the Classics, Religious Studies and Philosophy departments.

   8. The Gates, Seaver Science Center and Millikan Hall

      If you look north, you'll see the stone gates at the corner of Sixth and College Avenues. The gates, which when built in 1914 marked the northern boundary of the College, bear the words of the fourth Pomona President, James A. Blaisdell. 

      
      On Orientation Day, new students run through the Gates together to mark the start of their college experience. The Gates welcome them with the inscription: “Let only the eager, thoughtful, and reverent enter here.” Prior to graduation, seniors exit past the Gates' departing message: “They only are loyal to this College who, departing, bear their added riches in trust for mankind.”

       

      From the Gates, facing north, the buildings on the left side of College Avenue are the Seaver Laboratories. Seaver South was dedicated in 1959 and is the home of the Biology and Neuroscience departments, as well as the Science, Technology and Society program. Behind Seaver South on Sixth Street is the Seaver Biology Building. Built in 2005, the Seaver Biology Building is one of most sustainably designed science buildings in the country. Pomona’s Chemistry department is found in Seaver North.

       

      Construction is ongoing on Millikan Laboratory, which is on the northeastern corner of College and Sixth. The new science hall, which will be finished in 2015, will house the Mathematics and Physics departments. Those departments are being temporarily housed just north of Millikan in the Seeley Mudd Library.

   9. Alexander Hall and Smith Campus Center

      This is Smith Campus Center, the heart of activity at Pomona College. First, on your way here, you passed Alexander Hall, which opened in 1991 and is home to many of the College’s administrative offices, including the President’s Office, Financial Aid, the Dean of Students, the Dean of the College, and the Career Development Office. The Career Development Office helps to connect students with internships, graduate fellowships and job opportunities, as well as provides access to the Sagehen alumni network across the world. 

       

      Standing in the courtyard of the Smith Campus Center, you'll see the Coop Fountain, our student-run snack bar, open late during the academic year. To the left is the Coop Store, and on the other side is the Sagehen Café. Many events on campus are held at the Rose Hills Theatre, which is beneath us in the basement, and in Edmunds Ballroom, where our award-winning Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company practices and hosts events. Also downstairs, you’ll find Doms Lounge, a popular event space for students that hosts lectures, club events, music performances, comedy shows, and other events. 

       

      Above Doms is the Fireplace Lounge and the mail room. It's a popular place to relax and study, especially on our rare cold days. Also located in Smith Campus Center are the Asian American Resource Center, the Quantitative Skills Center and the Writing Center – some of the many offices at Pomona that help support students.

       

      Behind you is Stover Walk where every September, students share their summer research projects. Pomona offers tremendous opportunities for undergraduate students to pursue research, either working closely with professors or independently.  Some students even get the opportunity to present their research at academic conferences or co-author papers with professors.

       

      Here, at SCC, you'll see the Coop Fountain to the north. It's a student-run snack bar, open late during the academic year. To the left is the Coop Store, and on the other side is the Sagehen Café. The SCC also has a 200-seat auditorium and movie theater, a ballroom, the student mailboxes, an ATM, student government and organization offices, meeting and social rooms, and more. 

   10. Turrell Skyspace and Lincoln and Edmunds Halls

       On your way here, you walked through the Edmunds Hall breezeway. Edmunds Hall and Lincoln Hall were built together in 2007. Edmunds Hall houses Geology, Psychology, some Environmental Analysis offices, and the intercollegiate departments of American Studies, Africana Studies, Asian American Studies, and Chicana/o-Latina-o Studies. Lincoln Hall houses the Computer Science, and Cognitive Science and Linguistics departments.

        

       Here in front of us is Dividing the Light, a Skyspace installation by artist James Turrell, Class of 1965. This popular and notable public artwork allows visitors to gather at dusk and dawn beneath the canopy to watch the sky as gradient light slowly changes colors, heightening the viewer's awareness of light, sky and perception. 

   11. North Campus and Library

       Honnold-Mudd Library is located at the northernmost end of College Way at the center of the Claremont Colleges. Today, the collection has grown to 4.7 million volumes, thanks to the shared resources of the seven Claremont schools. The library's Link Plus program allows you to borrow books from other libraries in Southern California, too.

        

       As you walk to the east, student residence halls line the walkway leading to Bixby Plaza, with the Bosbyshell Fountain and Smith Tower. Most North Campus dorms are built around courtyards, with private entrances to single rooms and two-room doubles. Walker Hall, on the left side of the walkway, provides housing for 106 students and is the location of The Student Life, Pomona’s longest standing student-run newspaper. On the right, Clark V houses 96 students and is typical of the courtyard-style dorm common on North Campus. 

   12. Residence halls, Bixby Plaza, Walker Wall and Frary Dining Hall

       Looking north from the Bosbyshell Fountain in Bixby Plaza, you will see Walker Wall lining the grassy area called Walker Beach. Walker Wall is a free-speech wall where students can express themselves by painting messages or pictures. Students use the wall to convey ideas, advertise events, or simply wish friends a happy birthday. We call Walker Beach a beach because on sunny days, students will bring out their beach towels to study, relax and soak up the sun.

        

       Let's take a moment to orient ourselves with the other Claremont Colleges. Right behind Walker Wall, the large building you see is Claremont McKenna College's Kravis Center. It marks the western edge of that college, which extends several blocks to the east. North of Kravis, you'll find Scripps College. Above Scripps is Harvey Mudd, while Pitzer College is located to the northeast.

        

       Clark I, the northernmost of the Clark dormitories, lines the east side of Walker Beach. Its 116 students live in rooms that have private entrances that open up into three separate courtyards. Norton Hall/Clark III, referred to as Norton-Clark, makes up the southern edge of the plaza and is home to 119 students. Pomona’s newest and most sustainably designed residence halls, Sontag Hall and Pomona Hall, located northeast of Norton-Clark, were completed in 2011. 

        

       Pomona Hall is home to the Outdoor Education Center, a great resource for students who want to explore the California outdoors. The Center plans Orientation Adventure, which are four-day trips where first-years get to know each other before starting classes. It also offers PE classes, certification training, equipment loans, and support for field trips for departments like Geology. One of the most popular clubs at the Claremont Colleges is On the Loose, an organization that plans subsidized weekend trips all around California.

        

       Frary Dining Hall, up the stairs to your right, is distinguished by its arched ceiling and wood paneling reminiscent of the dining halls of Oxford. Students gather at Frary not only for regular meals, but also for the extremely popular evening snack served as a study break for students, who are often serenaded at the base of the steps by one of Claremont’s eight a cappella groups. Inside Frary is the famed fresco Prometheus (1930) by renowned artist José Clemente Orozco.

   13. The Athletic Center and Facilities

       You are now at the Rains Center. Completed in 1989, the center houses the Memorial Gymnasium (basketball, volleyball, badminton), the Voelkel Gymnasium (three basketball courts), and an all-purpose room. There are also squash and racquetball courts, offices, training rooms and a fitness center. All athletic facilities are open to Pomona students regardless of their athletic participation. Students at Pomona may choose from 10 Division III varsity sports for men and 11 for women, as well as numerous club and intramural teams.

        

       Located to the east of the Rains Center are Pomona’s athletic fields. The Merrit Football Field and the Baseball Field are located immediately next to the Rains Center. To the east are the Robert L. Strehle Track, an all-weather facility for track and cross country; Haldeman Center, which features a 50-meter competition swimming pool; and two soccer fields. The Pauley Tennis Complex offers 10 all-weather tennis courts, in addition to the courts located on South Campus.

        

       Although not included on the walking tour, you are welcome to explore this area on your own. In addition to athletic facilities, in the wooded area commonly referred to as “The Wash” are Brackett Observatory, Sontag Greek Theatre, and the Pomona College Organic Farm. The 1.2-acre working farm hosts classes, allows students to tend their own vegetable plots, and work with chickens, bee hives, and fruit trees.

   14. Marston Quadrangle and Bridges Auditorium

       The Marston Quadrangle was designed to be the center of college life at Pomona, a place where North and South campus would meet. In front of you is Mabel Shaw Bridges Auditorium. Usually referred to as “Big Bridges,” the largest auditorium on campus seats 2,500 and hosts many visiting theatre companies, concerts by popular and classical musicians, performances by comedians and lectures given by famous speakers throughout the year. Names such as Bill Gates, Willie Nelson and Taylor Swift have all graced the stage of Big Bridges.

   15. Return to Sumner Hall

       We hope that you enjoyed your Pomona campus visit. Please contact the Admissions Office with any additional questions and to add your name to our mailing list. Prospective students are encouraged to arrange a personal interview. Thank you for visiting Pomona College, and have a great day.