Sports Logo DYK - Stanford tree

[IronChefShark]

Ok how many of you out there have seen Stanford University's logo and thought to themselves, "why is thier symbol a tree"?

Well, here is the background on it.

For those of you too lazy to click, here is the rundown.

In November of 1769, Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola was exploring the western shore of the San Francisco bay, where he and his party made thier base camp under a tall coastal redwood tree. This tree soon became thier landmark of familiarity as they continued to explore the region, and the tree was named "El Palo Alto" (the tall tree).

In 1876, then governor of California Leland Stanford purchased 650 acres of land near El Palo Alto as a homestead. This land eventually became the university that today bears his name. The city that sprung up around the university took the name of the landmark tree, Palo Alto. The tree in the Stanford University logo is a depiction of the El Palo Alto tree.

Yes, the tree still stands to this day. So now you know, unless of course, you already did know.

[BostonBlazer]

And now I know.

[swilson160]

[Spearhead]

[Waleslax]

... and knowing is half the battle!

[fumbler]

Thanks ICS good rundown, keep it up with this thread.

[TopCat]

Heh, I always figured "Cardinal" was a type of tree.

[oddball]

... and knowing is half the battle!

"...And running like a scared little girls is the other half." - Cobra Commander