Old Main (Western Washington University)

United States historic place

Old Main, Western Washington University

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Location| Western Washington University campus, Bellingham, Washington
Coordinates| 48°44′17″N 122°28′58″W﻿ / ﻿48.73806°N 122.48278°W﻿ / 48.73806; -122.48278
Built| 1896, 1907 (additions)
Architect| Warren Skillings & James M. Corner
Alfred Lee (1907)
Architectural style| Italian Renaissance
NRHP reference No.| 77001365[1]
Added to NRHP| November 7, 1977

Old Main is a historic building on the Western Washington University campus in Bellingham, Washington. Constructed in 1896 to house the new Normal school and opened for classes in 1899, it is the oldest building on the campus. It currently serves as administrative and student services offices.

## History

[edit]

Governor John McGraw signed legislation establishing the New Whatcom Normal School on February 24, 1893, the first normal School in Western Washington. In November 1895, after enough funds were raised, construction began on a permanent school building on the Sehome Hill site by Fairhaven-based contractor W.B. Davey. Prominent Seattle architects Warren Skillings & James Corner were chosen to design the new building, a 4-story brick and stone building in the Italian Renaissance style.[2] The structure was largely completed by February 1897 but could not be opened to students until additional funds could be secured to install heating, lighting, and to do general grounds maintenance, which were not included in the original contract.[3] The first official class entered in 1899, composed of 88 students. Matching 4-story wings were added to the north and south ends of the building in 1907 under the direction of Bellingham architect Alfred Lee, who is best known for having designed the New Whatcom City Hall in 1892, now the Whatcom Museum.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. ^ "Whatcom and Bellingham Bay: Schools and Social Life". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. August 2, 1896. p. 13. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
3. ^ "Whatcom Normal School". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. January 3, 1897. p. 12. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
4. ^ "Normal Annex to Go Up at Once". Bellingham Herald. Newsbank. April 20, 1907. p. 1.

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Bellingham, Washington

* People
* History
* District Court

Landmarks|

* Aftermath Clubhouse
* Bellingham National Bank Building
* B.P.O.E. Building
* Flatiron Building
* Lairmont Manor
* Leopold Hotel
* Mount Baker Theatre
* Lottie Roth Block
* Old City Hall
* Pickett House
* Safe Return
* T. G. Richards and Company Store

Parks|

* Bloedel Donovan Park
* Boulevard Park
* Cornwall Park
* Lake Whatcom Park
* Larrabee State Park
* Little Squalicum Park
* Maritime Heritage Park
* Whatcom Falls Park
* Sehome Hill Arboretum

Geography and places|

* Chuckanut Mountains
* Lake Padden
* Lake Samish
* Lake Whatcom
* Fairhaven
* Sehome
* Sudden Valley
* Waterfront
* Bellis Fair Mall

Transportation|

* Fairhaven Station
* Bellingham International Airport
* Route 11 (Chuckanut Drive)
* Route 539 (The Guide Meridian)
* Whatcom Transportation Authority

History|

* Bellingham riots
* C. X. Larrabee
* Julius Bloedel
* George Pickett
* George Vancouver
* Sir William Bellingham

Museums|

* SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention
* Bellingham Railway Museum
* Whatcom Children's Museum
* Whatcom Museum of History and Art

Education|

* Bellingham High School
* Bellingham School District
* Bellingham Technical College
* Sehome High School
* Squalicum High School
* Western Washington University
* Whatcom Community College
* Whatcom Middle School

Media|

* Bellingham Public Library
* The Bellingham Herald
* KAFE
* KBCB
* KGMI
* KISM
* KMRE-LP
* KPUG
* KUGS
* KVOS-TV

Sports|

* Bellingham Bells
* Bellingham Mariners
* Bellingham Slam
* Bellingham Sportsplex
* Whatcom Pavilion

Places of worship|

* Congregation Beth Israel
* Cornwall Church

Companies,
organizations,
and events|

* Bellingham Festival of Music
* Bellingham Theatre Guild
* Bluewater Productions
* Clickpop Records
* Estrus Records
* Frequency
* LinuxFest Northwest
* Mount Baker Theatre
* The Non-GMO Project
* Port of Bellingham
* Ski to Sea Race

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National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington (state)

Lists
by county|

* Adams
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* Pierce
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* Skagit
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* Thurston
* Wahkiakum
* Walla Walla
* Whatcom
* Whitman
* Yakima

Other lists|

* National Historic Landmarks
* Bridges and Tunnels

* Keeper of the Register
* History of the National Register of Historic Places
* Property types
* Historic district
* Contributing property

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