Downtown San Jose in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

College of Notre Dame

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 6, 2012

1. College of Notre Dame Marker

Inscription. The sisters of Notre Dame de Namur founded their college on this site in 1851. The facility began modestly but eventually expanded to occupy the entire north side of Santa Clara Street from Almaden Avenue to Santa Teresa Street. A boarding school for young ladies, the College of Notre Dame was known for its high academic standards. In 1868 it became California’s first chartered women’s college. Encroaching commercial development began in the 1920’s, to threaten the college’s bucolic isolation; the campus was removed to Belmont in 1923.

Erected by San Jose History Walk. (Marker Number 11.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 37° 20.07′ N, 121° 53.674′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Downtown San Jose. It is at the intersection of West Santa Clara Street and Notre Dame Avenue on West Santa Clara Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225 West Santa Clara Street, San Jose CA 95113, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Silicon Valley,

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hotel De Anza (within shouting distance of this marker); The Palomar Ballroom (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Farmers Union Building (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Luis María Peralta Adobe (about 600 feet away); International Business Machines : RAMAC (about 600 feet away); Electric Light Tower (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Juan Bautista de Anza Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Thomas Fallon House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 6, 2012

2. College of Notre Dame Marker

Diagram of the San Jose History Walk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 30, 2012

3. Diagram of the San Jose History Walk

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 15, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 984 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 15, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.