Downtown Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
First School in Seattle
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 24, 2016
1. First School in Seattle Marker
of
California
On this spot
the first school in Seattle
was taught by Mrs Catherine
P. Blaine in January 1854
Erected 1905 by Washington University State Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1854.
Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 47° 36.185′ N, 122° 20.073′ W. Marker was in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It was in Downtown Seattle. It was on First Avenue south of Columbia Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 714 First Avenue, Seattle WA 98104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Washington’s Puget Sound Region. It was also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it was in North America, in the Cascade Range, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Site of Yeslers Pavilion (within shouting distance of this marker); How Did Fire Forge the City? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Broderick Building (about 300 feet away); Mutual Life Building (about 400 feet away); Carson D. Boren (about 400 feet away); Pioneer Building (about 400 feet away); The Pioneer Square Pergola (about 400 feet away); Exchange Building (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Seattle.
More about this marker. Although the marker clearly says Bank of California and 1959, this marker has been entered with the Washington State University Historical Society and 1905 as the organization
this page online
Note, also, that although the marker indicates her name as Catherine, other historical records indicate "Catharine" as the correct spelling.
Also see . . . Seattle's first school, a tuition (private) school, begins instruction in 1854 (HistoryLink.org). (Submitted on November 14, 2016.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 24, 2016
2. First School in Seattle Marker - Wide View
The marker is to the left of the parking structure entrance.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 622 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on March 10, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
