Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts

Located on the campus of Stanford University and also known as the Cantor Arts Center, the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts can trace its history back to the original Leland Stanford Jr. Museum of 1894. It featured a unique collection of world art the largest privately owned museum in the world at the time. But earthquakes in 1906 and 1989 destroyed the Stanford Museum, so it was resurrected in 1999 as this stunning facility with over 25 galleries of magnificent photography, 18th and 19th century American art, Mediterranean antiquities, and a fabulous sculpture garden.

Indeed, the garden was established in 1985 as the B. Gerald Cantor Rodin Sculpture Garden, named after the collector who contributed many of the 200 Rodin works of art found here. Such famed bronze pieces as "The Thinker" and the "Gates of Hell" are part of the outdoor exhibit. Rain or shine, docents lead free tours of the Rodin Collection, starting from the center's main lobby, on Wednesdays at 2pm, Saturdays at 11:30am, and Sundays at 3pm.

Inside, even more works can be found as part of the museum's permanent collection and its ever-changing visiting exhibits. The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts is located at 328 Lomita Drive, Stanford, California 94305. Admission is free of charge. Doors open at 11am on Wednesday through Sunday, closing at 5pm other than Thursday when the museum is open till 8pm.