By Kayla Landers, March 18, 2025
A university’s history is crucial in developing a campus’s identity, and Cal Poly Pomona solidifies this notion.
In 1932 W.K. Kellogg donated his ranch to the state of California, and in 1949 it had become a part of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. However, in 1966 it separated from this other institution to become the 16th campus to join the California State College System.
In 1972, the campus was named California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Here are the top five historic locations that connect the past to the present.
1. The Kellogg House (Building 112)
The Kellogg House was built in 1925 and served as Will Keith Kellogg’s and his family’s winter house, near his Arabian Horse Ranch.
“The Kellogg House was commissioned by Myron Hunt, a distinguished SoCal architect, who also designed the Pasadena Rose Bowl and the Huntington (Library) in San Marino,” said Kimberly Erickson, the Reading Room coordinator at Cal Poly Pomona.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation donated this site to the state of California in 1949, and now CPP uses it as a venue for weddings, corporate meetings, birthday parties and other special events.
2. University Plaza/Original W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center (Building 26)
In 1925, Kellogg built the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center to breed the finest Arabian horses. This had been his dream since he was a child, and his search for these animals spanned both domestically and internationally.
The original stables were located where University Plaza currently stands, and like The Kellogg House, the first stables were built by Hunt.
“The old stables at University Plaza were where the Arabian Horses were kept until the Center was opened in 1974,” said Amy Roberts, university archivist at CPP.
But ultimately, the old stables were turned into meeting rooms and student centers’ offices such as the Native American Student Center, Pride Center, Greek Life, and other student organizations.
3. The W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center (Building 29)
In 1926, Kellogg created the tradition of the Sunday Show, and throughout the history of CPP, it has been a pivotal aspect of the university.
During the 1940s, there was a pause in the horse shows due to World War II and other land issues, but The Kellogg Foundation was able to step in, and the shows resumed. It briefly stopped in 1973 when the horses were moved from the current University Plaza to Building 29.
Visiting this location and attending the monthly horse show provides a glimpse into the work started by Kellogg to breed some of the finest Arabian horses.
4. Rose Garden (North of Japanese Garden and Northeast of Building 17)
The Rose Garden was constructed in the middle of the 1920s by the Kellogg family, when CPP was still Kellogg Ranch. Kellogg hired the famed architect Charles Gibbs Adams, known for his landscape work for Hearst Castle.
“The Rose Garden originally had seven concentric circles of rose bushes because W.K. Kellogg liked the number seven,” Erickson said.
The circle shape was chosen so that people could look at the roses from every angle, according to correspondence dated Dec. 3, 1926.
5. The W. Keith & Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery (Building 35A)
The art gallery was founded in 1988 by the John L. and Helen Kellogg Foundation with support from W. Keith and Janet “Jean” Kellogg.
The gallery primarily shows contemporary artwork from the Los Angeles area, but in 2011 it expanded and presented an international art show.
“The W. Keith & Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery is free to visit, and depending on the time of the academic year, you might get to see some of your classmates’ artwork exhibited here,” Erickson said.
Learning the history behind campus locations adds another layer to the university’s story.
This prompts a greater connection between current students and CPP.
“I think it should be important for us to know and acknowledge our campus, and it’s honestly underrepresented, but cool, history under the Kellogg family,” said Dylan Todd, a political science student.
When students realize the importance of historic buildings around them at CPP, it helps to continue the legacy Kellogg started.
Preserving the university’s heritage ensures that future generations of students will understand the culture and traditions associated with CPP’s campus.
Feature image courtesy of Adriana Flores
