History and Heritage at Holy Names Academy

Have you ever passed by the stately exterior of Holy Names Academy and wondered what it looks like inside? Here is your chance to find out!

Holy Names Academy, Washington State's oldest, continuously operating school, was established in downtown Seattle in 1880 and moved to "the wilds" of Capitol Hill in 1908. Over the years, this Blue Ribbon school has been the educational home to generations of girls from Seattle and beyond while serving as a site of architectural beauty to the neighborhood.

The Capitol Hill Historical Society is excited to present an opportunity to explore the site and history of Holy Names Academy. Our host for this tour will be Christie Spielman, former Holy Names Academy Archivist and Coordinator of the recently established Heritage Center. Participants will tour portions of the school building, see a 15-minute video on the history of Holy Names Academy, and then explore the school's Heritage Center. Completed in 2019, the Heritage Center was designed to honor the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary and to record the history and impact of the Academy on the Seattle region. In addition to telling the story of the school, the Center explores the early days of Seattle as recorded by the Sisters, who served as both teachers and witnesses to history. Participants will see history panels with rare and fascinating photographs, an illustrated timeline, display cases of artifacts, and interactive digital search kiosks. This is a wonderful opportunity, and we are deeply grateful to Christie Spielman and Holy Names Academy for partnering with us.

Space is limited! There are only 20 spots for this tour. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to Capitol Hill Historical Society.

Parking for the event is free and available in the parking lot in back of the school (off 22nd Ave East) or on the street on 21st Ave East. Upon arrival, use the main entrance on 21st Ave East to join us for the tour. Stairless access is available; please request this in advance by reaching out to us at info@capitolhillpast.org.