Western Washington University history

In November 1895, construction began on a permanent school building, now known as Old Main, the current administration building.

Designed by prominent Seattle architects Warren Skillings & James Corner, it was completed by early 1897 but could not be opened to students until funds could be secured to install heating, lighting, and to do general grounds maintenance, which were not included in the original contract.

Instruction did not begin until 1899.

In 1901, the school's name was changed to State Normal School at Whatcom to reflect New Whatcom's name change.

Appointed in 1923, President Charles A. Fisher was instrumental in expanding the liberal arts.

Governor Clarence Martin controversially fired Fisher in 1939, a year after Bellingham Herald editor Frank Sefrit led a citizen’s committee accusing him of communism.

Also during this time, the Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies was founded (1967), with non-traditional education methods that would serve as a model for The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.

Since 1974, the State Legislature has funded Western’s public arts programming. “Our outdoor sculpture collection has been named one of the top ten at universities across the United States,” says Cocke.

The WWU Centennial Oral History Project was initiated in 1993 by a dedicated group of staff and faculty.

Hoby Darling, who graduated with a degree in history from Western in 1997, was the President and CEO of Skullcandy.