If you’ve ever driven by Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington, you might not know that it was once abandoned and left to decay. This castle-like high school, with its majestic brick towers, feels like it has always been part of the Tacoma landscape. However, in 1898 a devastating fire destroyed the building during construction, halting plans for a luxury hotel on the bluff and leaving the building abandoned for several years. Luckily, this Washington landmark is fully restored to its former glory as the state’s uniquely finest school.
In 1904, the Tacoma School District acquired the abandoned property and designed and renovated the building into a school.
In 1906, Tacoma High School (as it was originally called) opened its doors to 876 students.
Nicknamed the Brown Castle, the school has been home to many historical figures, including Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Warren Harding.
The school was renamed Stadium High School after the construction of a stadium bowl in 1910.
Unfortunately, the original 32,000-seat stadium far exceeded the weight the floor could support. In the 1970s, the stadium was renovated and stabilized, losing half of the seating.
Stadium High School has undergone several renovations and upgrades over the years.
Although the school has expanded to include a gymnasium, an arts and sciences complex, and an underground swimming pool, architects and designers have worked to preserve the building’s historical integrity.
Stadium High School’s castle-like features look straight out of a Harry Potter movie, but it’s actually where another popular movie was filmed.
As far as schools go, it doesn’t get more glamorous than here.
With spectacular views of Commencement Bay, an iconic stadium, and a building that makes students feel like royalty, Stadium High School is a pretty sweet place to get an education.
It’s hard to imagine that this magical building once stood empty, abandoned and deserted. Luckily, Tacoma’s Brown Castle was saved and restored to its former glory, forever punctuating the landscape of the Stadium District. Have you ever attended a Stadium High School event? What do you think of the view? Let us know in the comments.
Do you like visiting historical places? Check out these other historical landmarks in Washington state.
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Address: Stadium High School, 111 NE St, Tacoma, WA 98403, USA
