Schedule

Alumni House (345 S. Hill Avenue)

Your first stop for a great weekend. Check in at the Caltech Alumni House to pick up your program and access badge before your first scheduled activity.

Beckman Institute

Come explore Caltech’s history at the Caltech Archives and Special Collections. On display: photographs from Caltech’s research in astronomy and particle physics; Drosophila drawings by Edith Wallace; original letters and notes of faculty such as Feynman, Richter, and von Kármán; rare books dating back to the Scientific Revolution, and campus photography from 1976. Caltech Archives will also offer behind-the-scenes tours of collection storage.

Beckman Institute, Suite B215, 400 South Wilson Avenue

Suite B215, 400 South Wilson Avenue

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Find out how JPL has pushed back the frontiers of space exploration. Enjoy a three-hour tour, including Mission Control, the Mars Yard, and the auditorium with its full-scale replicas of some of America’s most famous spacecraft.

Please Note: Requires extensive walking. The tour lasts two to three hours. The walking distance for the tour is approximately 0.8 miles with multiple flights of stairs. Tours involve a considerable amount of walking and stair climbing. Wheelchair access can be accommodated with advance notice; however, wheelchairs cannot be provided.

JPL requires that all U.S. citizens, 18 years of age or older, present official, government-issued photo identification (REAL ID or passport) before being allowed entry. All non-U.S. Citizens 18 years of age or older must present a passport or resident visa (green card) before being allowed entry. Individuals without proper identification will not be admitted to the Laboratory.

Advanced registration required. Limited to 80 participants. You may not attend both the JPL and CHARA tours. Please select one.

Shuttle transportation from the Alumni House will be provided.

Mount Wilson Observatory

Join fellow alumni on a trip to the Mount Wilson Observatory for an exciting walking tour of the CHARA (Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy) Array, with visits to the array telescopes, beam combining lab, and CHARA exhibit hall. The CHARA Array combines the light of six telescopes spread across the mountain to achieve the spatial resolution necessary to image the surfaces of stars. The tour will include exclusive access inside the 100-inch dome to view the historic telescope, and insights into the people and discoveries that shaped astronomy history.

Please note: The tour is at a high elevation and involves walking and stair climbing. The high elevation of the Observatory (5715 ft) and the change in elevation during the approximately one-mile and up to two-hour long tour are unsuitable for individuals with respiratory and heart problems or with limited mobility.

The century-old facilities are not ADA-compliant, and, except for the Astronomical Museum, offer no access to those who cannot climb multiple flights of stairs. Thus, tours of the Observatory are inappropriate for some elderly people and for those who are not in good health.

Visitors should take these factors into consideration before touring the Observatory. Weather conditions in the mountains can vary greatly and change suddenly.

Limited to 60 participants. You may not attend both the JPL and CHARA tours. Please select one.

Shuttle transportation from the Alumni House will be provided.

Meet at Beckman Auditorium

Join Caltech History and Architectural Tour Service (CHATS) docents and revisit your lecture halls, tour dramatically renovated buildings, and see the award-winning new campus buildings, thoughtfully designed to promote innovative scientific inquiry and noted for their architectural impact.

Rathskeller at the Athenaeum

Members of the Torchbearers Legacy Society, those who have provided for Caltech in their estate plans, or who have completed life income gifts, are invited to reminisce and reconnect with friends and colleagues for appetizers and a wine tasting during Half Century Club Weekend. We look forward to seeing you!
For questions and to learn more please contact Diana Saa at (626) 395-2927 or ogpevents@caltech.edu.

Blacker, Dabney, Fleming, Lloyd, Page, Ricketts, and Venerable (formerly Ruddock) Houses

Join classmates from your House and current student residents for a Thursday evening House dinner. Share stories and see how House traditions have evolved.

Alumni House 

Your first stop for a great weekend. Check-in at the Caltech Alumni House and pick up your program and access badge for all events. Start the day with an informal breakfast and stop by throughout the day if you need a quick rest, refreshments, a place to meet friends, or have questions.

Beckman Institute

Come explore Caltech’s history at the Caltech Archives and Special Collections. On display: photographs from Caltech’s research in astronomy and particle physics; Drosophila drawings by Edith Wallace; original letters and notes of faculty such as Feynman, Richter, and von Kármán; rare books dating back to the Scientific Revolution, and campus photography from 1976. Caltech Archives will also offer behind-the-scenes tours of collection storage.

Beckman Institute, Suite B215, 400 South Wilson Avenue

B122 Gates Annex/Linus Pauling Lecture Hall

Reminisce about pranks and notable times from Caltech with classmates from the Class of 1976! Hear from Tom Mannion, Senior Director of Campus Activities and Engagement, about student life today.  

This session will be live-streamed via Zoom. Sign-up to receive the Zoom link when available. 

Dabney Lounge and Gardens

All Half Century Club members are invited to honor the newest inductees from the Class of 1976 at this lunch reception at the adored Dabney Lounge and Gardens. Provost David Tirrell will honor the new 50th class, share remarks on the groundbreaking work being done at Caltech, and the Institute’s impressive leadership toward the future.

Meet at Beckman Auditorium

Join Caltech History and Architectural Tour Service (CHATS) docents and revisit your lecture halls, tour dramatically renovated buildings, and see the award-winning new campus buildings, thoughtfully designed to promote innovative scientific inquiry and noted for their architectural statements.

B122 Gates Annex/Linus Pauling Lecture Hall

Hear from some of Caltech’s favorite professors about their perspectives on life at Caltech in the ’70s and before, and the many changes that have happened since. Then get insights from current Caltech faculty about the work today in this engaging panel discussion. 

• Kip Thorne (DAA ’15, BS ’62), Richard P. Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, Emeritus
• Leroy Hood (BS ’60, PhD ’68), Former Chair of Biology, Caltech (1970–1992); Co-founder, Institute for Systems Biology

• Andy Ingersoll, Professor of Planetary Science, Emeritus 

• Melany Hunt, Dotty and Dick Hayman Professor of Mechanical Engineering 

• Paul Asimow (MS ’93, PhD ’97), Eleanor and John R. McMillan Professor of Geology and Geochemistry 

• Adam Wierman, Carl F Braun Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences 

This session will be livestreamed via Zoom. Sign-up to receive the Zoom link when available. 

President’s Residence

Join President Thomas F. Rosenbaum and Professor Katherine T. Faber at their residence for a welcome reception honoring the Class of 1976 and all members of the Half Century Club. 

Blacker, Dabney, Fleming, Lloyd, Page, Ricketts, and Venerable (formerly Ruddock) Houses

Take a stroll down memory lane on Olive Walk as you join classmates from all years and current student residents from your House during this fun afternoon happy hour. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and toast to great stories, memories, and House traditions.  

The Athenaeum: Olive Walk Steps

Class of 1976 members will gather on the Athenaeum steps to cement memories of the weekend with photos.

The Athenaeum

Celebrate with fellow alumni and guests at this special dinner honoring all milestone classes—those ending in 1 and 6—including the Half Century Club. Hosted at the Athenaeum, this signature gathering brings together multiple generations of Techers for conversation, reconnection, and recognition of class milestones.

Beckman Auditorium and Various Locations

Separate registration required. Seminar Day is not included in your Half Century Club and Class of 1976 50th Reunion registration.

Complete your weekend: Register yourself and your guests for Seminar Day!

A Caltech tradition since 1931, Seminar Day features faculty and research talks, lab tours, and science programming across campus. Open to all alumni, families, and guests, the day also includes Seminar Day Kids—hands-on activities for Tiny Techers ages 5-13.

Ramo Auditorium

The Caltech Orchestra comprises select Caltech students, plus affiliated community members largely drawn from Caltech’s faculty, staff and alumni, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).   

Learn more about this performance. 

Huntington Gardens

Advanced, separate registration required. 

Alumni will meet on the Huntington patio, just past the ticketing area, and divide into groups for a docent-led tour of the Huntington grounds and museums.  Advance reservations for your entry time are required and must be made directly with the Huntington. Senior Admission is $24. 

Click here to make your reservation for 10 am; reservations for Sunday, May 17, will open in the spring. Check back often to make your reservation early as Huntington reservations often sell out quickly. 

Huntington Gardens (1151 Oxford Road, San Marino) 

Tyson House (505 S. Wilson Ave.)

The Caltech Y is delighted to welcome members to the Tyson House for an open house featuring delicious food trucks, a mimosa bar, and poster presentations by student leaders. This special event offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow alumni, current students, staff, faculty, and members of the broader community.

Separate registration/cost required ($30 pp).

For questions and to learn more, please contact Maya Rosental Saporito at 626-395-6163 or maya.saporito@caltech.edu.

Petrillo’s (833 E Valley Blvd, San Gabriel)

Following the Huntington, join one last chance to hang out and reminisce with friends at the “See-You-Next-Time” event at Petrillo’s in San Gabriel. Enjoy lunch at a local Caltech favorite after a great weekend with classmates.  

Ramo Auditorium 

The Caltech Orchestra comprises select Caltech students, plus affiliated community members largely drawn from Caltech’s faculty, staff and alumni, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). 

Click here for more information about this performance.