Senior Hall
historic place
Senior Hall, a historic log cabin on the University of California, Berkeley campus, was built in 1906. Designed by architect John Galen Howard, this rustic structure was intended to reflect characteristic California architecture. It was constructed from local redwood logs. The Order of the Golden Bear, a senior honor society, proposed the building in 1905 as a meeting place for senior men. Senior Hall served as the university's student union and was the first campus building funded by student donations. Early on, female students were excluded. Professor H. Morse Stephens referred to Senior Hall as the "heart" of the university. A new student union replaced Senior Hall in 1923. By the 1970s, the building deteriorated and faced demolition in 1973. However, campus and community resistance saved it. Senior Hall was then listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. After further renovations, it reopened in 2021. This site remains significant for its role in early student self-governance at Berkeley.