Oval (Stanford University)

The Oval (also known as the Stanford Oval)^[2] is an oval-shaped sunken lawn on the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, United States.^[3] It has had flower plantings in the shape of the letter "S", for Stanford.^[4]

Oval
Aerial view of the lawn
Area	196,000 square feet (18,200 m2)[1]
Location	Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.
Oval
Coordinates: 37.42986°N 122.16948°W / 37.42986; -122.16948

Though the oval space has existed since the start of the university, its current look dates from 1980 when an anonymous couple donated $150,000 for it to be renovated. A central flower garden was added and paths repaved.^[1]

The lawn once had a statue called Faith. The Olmsted Brothers recommended removing the statue in 1914.^[5] In 2020, students created a memorial in the Oval following the murder of George Floyd.^[2]

The lawn has served as a meeting place for other protests.^[6][7] It has also been recreated in "Stanford in Minecraft" in 2021.^[8]