EST. 1834

Constant and True

Since 1834, we’ve remained true to who we are. While we’ve evolved and innovated in every way, some things never change. There’s something special about what we share with more than 70,000 of our closest friends who call this place alma mater.

THE MAGNOLIAS

You’ll find them gracing Manchester Plaza, and they hold a special place in the hearts of Wake Foresters across the globe. The magnolias of today come from seeds that were collected from the Old Campus in 1947, grown for five years in a swimming pool in South Carolina, then transplanted to the Reynolda Campus.

WAIT CHAPEL

Named for Samuel Wait, our University’s first president. The 12-ton carillon consists of 48 bronze bells. There are only 100 of its kind nationwide.

The chapel has hosted a wide range of events, including two presidential debates, the memorial service for Maya Angelou, NPR’s “Wait Wait …Don’t Tell Me” and many speakers, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President Jimmy Carter, James Earl Jones, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Tony Dungy, and Senator John McCain.

THE STONE ARCH

It’s not our first arch. What graces the Quad today is a replica of the original, which can still be found on our Old Campus in Wake Forest, N.C. Each year during Commencement, the graduating class carries on the tradition of entering the Quad through the arch.

Fun Facts

The Beginning

The Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute was founded in 1834.

Our First Student

The first Wake Forest student was only 12 years old, and the first graduating class included 4 students.

Moving Locations

In 1946, the school accepted an invitation from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to move from Wake Forest, NC, to its current location in Winston-Salem.