Tenley Campus facts for kids
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Immaculata Seminary Historic District
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WCL's Capital Building, the former Immaculata Seminary, from Tenley Circle in 2019
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 Location in District of Columbia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4300 Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., United States |
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| Area | 8.2 acres (3.3 ha) |
| Built | c. 1839–2016 |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000209 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 19, 2014 |
The Immaculata Seminary Historic District, also known as Tenley Campus, is a special piece of land in Washington, D.C.. It is about 8.2 acres (3.3 hectares) in size. You can find it near Tenley Circle in the Tenleytown neighborhood.
This site was once home to a large country estate called Dunblane. It had a beautiful manor house built in the Federal and Greek Revival styles. Important families from Georgetown owned this estate for many years.
Later, from 1904 to 1906, the Catholic Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods bought the land. They opened schools for girls called Immaculata, teaching students from elementary to college levels. They had to close the schools because of money problems.
Since 1986, American University has owned the campus. They bought it partly because it's close to the Tenleytown–AU station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro. Today, it is home to the university's Washington College of Law.
The campus shows how Tenleytown changed from a country area to a busy streetcar suburb. It also highlights the Catholic Church's important role in education, especially for women, during the 1900s. The site was recognized as a historic place in Washington, D.C., in 2011 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. When the law school moved there in 2016, they kept the old buildings and outdoor areas special. This included Dunblane and the original 1905 seminary building, which stands out along Wisconsin Avenue.
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Location and Surroundings
Tenley Campus is located on a small hill. It faces the western side of Tenley Circle. This is where Nebraska Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue, and Yuma Street NW meet in Northwest Washington, D.C.
The campus covers about eight acres. It is bordered by Yuma Street NW to the north and Warren Street NW to the south. Nebraska Avenue NW and Tenley Circle NW are to the east, and 42nd Street NW is to the west.
The area north of the campus has many important buildings. These include St. Ann Catholic Church, Janney Elementary School, and the Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library. The rest of the nearby area is mostly homes. American University Park is to the west, with many single-family houses. American University's main campus is about half a mile away.
Campus History
Early Church Use
In 1902, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods decided to open a religious school in Washington. They bought land from St. Ann Catholic Church. Two years later, they bought another piece of land across the street. This saved the church's rectory from being torn down.
Cardinal James Gibbons had asked for a "select school for girls" in the area. Architect Albert Olszewski Von Herbulis designed a new building for this school. On July 2, 1904, the first stone was laid. The Sisters called the site "Mount Marian."
The school was named the Seminary of Our Lady Immaculate, or "Immaculata." This name honored a special anniversary related to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. The school was finished in 1905.
On September 8, Cardinal Gibbons blessed the new building. He also helped with a special mass at St. Ann's Church. Many important Catholic leaders attended the ceremonies. In 1906, the Sisters bought more land at the back of the block. This completed the area that is now the historic district.
On December 8, 1955, three new buildings were started at Immaculata. These were Marian, Loretta, and Regina Halls.
American University Takes Over
In 1978, after Immaculata Junior College closed, American University started renting space. They needed more housing for their students. They also rented Immaculata's gym for evening use.
American University officially bought the campus on December 4, 1986. After some updates, the campus was used for student housing and study abroad programs.
AU bought Tenley Campus in 1987 to help with space problems at its main campus. The campus was popular with students doing internships. This was because it was very close to the Tenleytown-AU Metro station.
Some of the buildings on campus included:
- Federal Hall: This building housed 128 students. It also had the mailroom, a computer lab, and a dining hall.
- Congressional Hall: This building housed 173 students. It had the reception desk and the Resident Director's office.
- Constitution Building: This building held various administrative offices.
Most of these buildings were taken down in 2013. This made way for a new home for the Washington College of Law. New academic buildings were finished in 2016. The Washington College of Law officially moved to Tenley Campus.
The new law school was officially opened on February 12, 2016. Mayor of the District of Columbia Muriel Bowser attended the event. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Ruth Bader Ginsburg also spoke at the dedication.
Important Historic Buildings
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Dunblane, with its additions from 1935 and 1974.
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The 1921 garage and laundry building, now used by American University.
Immaculata Seminary and Chapel (Capital Hall)
Dunblane Manor House
Garage and Laundry Building
What the Campus is Used for Today
Today, Tenley Campus is mainly home to the Washington College of Law.
Here are some of the main buildings, updated around 2016:
- Capital Hall: This is an older building that was fully renovated. It now houses the law school's admissions and administrative services.
- Warren Building: This is a completely new academic building. It has many classrooms, offices, and the Pence Law Library.
- Yuma Building: This is another new academic building. It contains classrooms, faculty offices, and other academic spaces.
All of Tenley Campus's buildings have a Gold certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This means they are designed to be very energy efficient and good for the environment.
