Old Main (Western Washington University)

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.

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
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

History

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.^[4]

References

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. 2 Aug 1896. p. 13. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
3. "Whatcom Normal School". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. 3 Jan 1897. p. 12. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
4. "Normal Annex to Go Up at Once". Bellingham Herald. Newsbank. 20 Apr 1907. p. 1.