Centennial video series: Herzstein Hall arcade

In the early days of the Rice Institute, the most popular place on campus was the arcade – or walkway – between Herzstein Hall’s main building and its Hogwarts-like lecture hall. The arcade served as a place to socialize, but it’s also where many of the early photographs were taken on campus and where speakers addressed the Rice community. In 1925, U.S. President Herbert Hoover, who was then secretary of commerce, stood on the staircase and gave a talk to the assembled students and faculty.

Working with Centennial Historian Melissa Kean, video producer Brandon Martin takes a look at the Herzstein Hall arcade. For more information on Rice’s history, visit Kean’s blog at www.ricehistorycorner.com.

To help celebrate the university’s centennial Oct. 12, Rice University is producing weekly videos exploring the school’s unique history.

To see other stories in the centennial video series, go to http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL60D6D71E71B66B3D&feature=plcp.