Columbia University is one of the world’s leading research institutions and one of the best universities in the country. Originally founded as King’s College in 1754, today Columbia attracts top-performing students from all around the globe with its combination of a world-class academic program and its location in the social and cultural hub of New York City. It is one of two Ivy League schools located in New York, the other being Cornell. Such a world class university located in such a storied city is sure to have some amazing history, and Columbia doesn't disappoint: The MGM Studio’s Lion was inspired by Columbia’s Lion mascot. Out of all the university halls in the US, Columbia’s Havemeyer 309 lecture hall is home to the most Hollywood movies, like Spiderman, Kinsey, Ghostbusters, and Mona Lisa’s Smile. Columbia is the 2nd largest landowner in NYC after the Catholic Church. The iconic Rockefeller Center was built on the land that was once owned by Columbia.