The statue of AlmaMater is the work of the sculptor DanielChesterFrench. It is said that an owl can be found in the folds of the goddess' clothes. It is said that when Columbia University was a school for monks, students believed that if anyone could find the owl at a glance, they could find their other half in Barnard Girls' School across the street. Columbia University: It is one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the world. It is located in the morning highlands of Manhattan, new york City, USA, near the Hudson River, north of Central Park. It was established in 1754 according to the King's Charter promulgated by King George II of England, and was named King's College. It is one of the oldest colleges in the American continent, the earliest undergraduate college in the United States to carry out general education, and still maintains the most stringent core curriculum in American universities. Columbia University was founded in 1896.