Mills College in Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

El Campanil

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 26, 2010

1. El Campanil Marker

The marker is mounted to the right of the front entrance to El Campanil.

Inscription.

El Campanil is the
first concrete
reinforced
structure
built west of
the Mississippi

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.

Location. 37° 46.723′ N, 122° 10.946′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. It is in Mills College. Marker is on Wetmore Road. El Campanil is located in the heart of the Mills College Campus, just across the circle from Mills Hall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oakland CA 94613, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First Latitude Sighting of the Golden Gate (approx. 0.2 miles away); Commemoration of Old Redwood Road from Redwood Canyon (approx. 1½ miles away); Peralta Hacienda (approx. 2 miles away); Anza Expedition of 1776 (approx. 2 miles away); John C. Fremont Monument (approx. 2.2 miles away); 442nd Regimental Combat Team Memorial (approx. 2.3 miles away); Site of Blossom Rock Navigation Trees (approx. 2.3 miles away); Voyage of the Brooklyn (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.

Also see . . . El Campanil. The Council of Independent College's Historic Campus Architecture Project page for

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El Campanil. On the campanile's bells: Ten bells that had been cast for the Chicago World's Columbia Exposition of 1893 hang in this tower. They are named after the graces of the Spirit in Galatians V: 22-23. Four of them, "Faith," "Hope," "Peace," and "Joy," ring chimes. The largest bell, "Love," and the smallest, "Meekness," and the others, "Gentleness," "Goodness," "Self-Control," and "Long-Suffering" complete the group. (Submitted on February 4, 2011.)

Dedication Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 26, 2010

2. Dedication Marker

Mounted to the left of the entrance is a plaque reading:
Designed by architect
Julia Morgan
Dedicated by
Susan T. Mills
April 14, 1904

Erected by... image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 26, 2010

3. Erected by...

Above the entrance is a plaque reading: El Campanil
Erected by
Mr. and Mrs. F.M. Smith
MDCCCIV

Backside of El Campanil image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 26, 2010

4. Backside of El Campanil

Looking north from behind the campanile, the oldest building on campus, Mills Hall (1871), is visible. Mills Hall is registered as California State Historical Landmark No. 849, although there is apparently no marker in the vicinity to indicate such. Mills College was originally founded as the Young Ladies Seminary in Benicia, which although no longer extant, is registered as California State Historical Landmark No. 795, and does have its own marker.
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El Campanil (1904) - Wide view of front of the campanile. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 26, 2010

5. El Campanil (1904) - Wide view of front of the campanile.

Designed in the Mission Revival style, the campanile is 72 feet tall, and was the first reinforced concrete building constructed west of the Mississippi River.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,015 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 4, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.