Victoria Hall (Pittsburgh) facts for kids
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 Location in Pittsburgh
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| Location | 201 South Winebiddle Street (Bloomfield), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
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| Coordinates | 40°27′50.68″N 79°56′32.46″W / 40.4640778°N 79.9423500°W |
| Built/founded | 1868 |
| CPHD designated | August 20, 1982 |
| PHLF designated | 1984 |
Victoria Hall is a historic building in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is also known as the Ursuline Academy or the Lynch House. This grand building was first built in the late 1860s for a man named Henry J. Lynch.
Later, in 1894, a group called the Ursuline Sisters bought the building. They turned it into a Catholic girls' school called the Ursuline Academy for Young Women. The school operated from 1895 until 1981. Because of its important history, the school building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
What Does Victoria Hall Look Like?
Victoria Hall is built in the Second Empire style. This was a popular architectural style in the late 1800s. It often features tall, grand buildings with fancy details.
The original architect of this house might have been Isaac Hobbs. He was a famous architect who designed the Dollar Savings Bank in Pittsburgh. Henry J. Lynch, who first owned Victoria Hall, worked closely with Hobbs.
This large mansion has 21 rooms inside. It also features beautiful stained-glass windows. The ceilings are very high, about 14 feet, and are made of decorative tin. You can also see carved corbels, which are special supports that stick out from the walls.
The building is recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the List of City of Pittsburgh historic designations in 1982. It also became a List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks in 1984.
What Is the History of Victoria Hall?
The Ursuline Sisters worked hard to raise money to buy this building for their school in the 1890s. They wanted to create a special place for young women to learn.
Over the years, the sisters added more parts to the original building. These additions included an auditorium, a chapel, and a dining hall. The Ursuline Sisters sold the building in the early 1990s.
From 1993 to 2001, the building was known as "Victoria Hall." During this time, it was used as a place for weddings and parties.
Today, Victoria Hall is home to the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh. This school is part of the larger Waldorf education movement. Waldorf schools focus on a unique way of teaching that helps students develop their creativity and thinking skills.
Students from the University of Pittsburgh helped research the building's history. They wrote the first draft to get Victoria Hall listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This work happened in 2008 and 2010.
