The California Institute of Technology's campus was set for greatness when founder George Ellery Hale hired prominent architect Bertram Goodhue in 1915 to design a master plan for 22 acres of Pasadena orange groves.

Goodhue's eclectic style—featuring planted patios, shaded walkways, and Persian pools—established the foundation for Caltech's architectural identity. As the campus expanded throughout the early 20th century, architectural treasures emerged: the Athenaeum, blending Italian villa and Spanish hacienda styles; Greene and Greene's bungalow-style student union; and gardens by Beatrix Ferrand and Florence Yoch that harmonized Mediterranean themes with California's natural landscape.

Explore the organizational and architectural elements that made Caltech a model for scientific institutions worldwide. Historic photographs reveal an early Pasadena aspiring to become a cultural center, while contemporary images showcase the Institute's ongoing commitment to architectural excellence.