Below is a timeline of events throughout the history of the Archdiocese of Seattle, from 1774 - 1975.  Some include links to detailed articles and photographs. 

CHRONOLOGY
ARCHDIOCESE OF SEATTLE
1774 - 1975

1774 The first Catholic priests in the Pacific Northwest were Franciscans who were part of the Perez expedition to the Northwest.

1775 Two Franciscan priests sailed with the Heceta-Bodega y Cuadra expedition. Rev. Benito Sierra came ashore to erect a cross with members of the crew of the Santiago.

1793 Rev. Magin Catala, O.F.M., arrived as the resident priest for the Spanish post at Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island.

1821 The first recorded petition for priests for Oregon Country was made by an unknown English woman from the lower Columbia Valley to the Bishop of St. Louis, Missouri. The letter reached him in 1822.

1831 Four Native Americans from the Rocky Mountain region appeared in St. Louis looking for Catholic missionaries to return with them.

1836 The first Catholic Church in Oregon Country was located in the Willamette Valley. It was a log structure built by Catholic Canadians anticipating the arrival of priests.

1838 The Hudson’s Bay Company granted permission for the passage of two priests to Oregon. Rev. Francis Norbert Blanchet left Montreal and arrived at Fort Walla Walla with Rev. Modeste Demers in October, and in November arrived at Fort Vancouver.

1839 Rev. Demers preached at a mission at Ft. Nesqually that was attended by members of 22 tribes. Thirteen baptisms were recorded.

        During Holy Week, Rev. F. N. Blanchet presented the Catholic Ladder at the Cowlitz mission.  For more reading, see the article 1839: Rev. F. N. Blanchet presented the Catholic Ladder at the Cowlitz Mission

1842 The Revs. Blanchet, Demers, and Peter DeSmet, S.J., met to discuss the organization of Oregon into a diocese. Father DeSmet was sent to Europe for supplies and priests.

1844 Rev. DeSmet arrived from Europe on the ship Infatigable with supplies, 4 Jesuits, 1 brother, and 6 Notre Dame Sisters. They landed first in Astoria and five days later at Ft. Vancouver.

1846 St. James Catholic Church was built a short distance from Ft. Vancouver. For more reading, see the article 1846: St. James Church, Vancouver

        Pope Gregory XVI erected the Vicariate in Oregon into an ecclesiastical province with the 3 Sees of Oregon City, Walla Walla, and Vancouver Island. Rev. F.N. Blanchet was named Bishop of Oregon City, Rev. M. Demers was named Bishop of Vancouver Island, and Rev. A.M.A. Blanchet (brother of Francis) was named as Bishop of Walla Walla.

        Rev. J.B.A. Brouillet was named Vicar General for the Diocese of Walla Walla.

1847 Bishop A.M.A. Blanchet arrived at Ft. Walla Walla from Montreal. He was accompanied by 2 Oblates and a seminarian.  For more reading, please see the biographical article about Bishop A.M.A. Blanchet

        The Whitman Massacre and the beginning of the Cayuse Indian uprisings closed many missions in the interior of what is now Washington State.

1848 The Act that established Oregon as a Territory contained a proviso confirming that religious groups with established missions on 640 acres were entitled to that acreage. St. James Mission in Vancouver was therefore entitled to 640 acres. This was challenged by the government, and the St. James Mission Claim was tried in the courts beginning in 1859. The claim was finally settled in 1905.

1850 The Diocese of Nesqually was established.  The administration of Walla Walla (as well as Colville and Ft. Hall) was transferred to the Bishop of Oregon City. For more reading, please see 1850: The Establishment of the Diocese of Nesqually

        Bishop A.M.A. Blanchet took up residence at Vancouver.

1852 Bishop Demers of Vancouver Island held the first Catholic Mass in Seattle’s history in Yesler’s cook house in the area now known as Pioneer Square.

1855 Rev. Louis Rossi erected a small chapel for white settlers and soldiers at Ft. Steilacoom.

1856 Mother Joseph and several Sisters of Providence arrived at Vancouver from Montreal and opened an asylum for the poor and a school, Providence Academy.

1857 The first mission on the Tulalip Indian Reservation was established by Rev. Eugene Casimir Chirouse, O.M.I.  For more reading, please see 1860: Tulalip Indian Mission

1858 The Sisters of Providence opened the first hospital in the Pacific Northwest at Ft. Vancouver. The first patient was a woman with consumption.

1860 The Oblates of Mary Immaculate opened a mission at Priests’ Point. Rev. E. C. Chirouse, O.M.I., was appointed a provisional reservation agent. For more reading, please see 1860: Reverend Eugene C. Chirouse, O.M.I.

1861 Rev. Chirouse was appointed the official government teacher for the school at the Tulalip Reservation.

1867 Rev. Francis X. Prefontaine founded Our Lady of Good Help, the first Catholic Church in Seattle.  For more reading, please see 1867: Our Lady of Good Help Church, Seattle and Msgr. F. X. Prefontaine

1868 Sisters of Providence began teaching at a female Indian School at Tulalip. This was the first government contract school in the United States.

1877 Sisters of Providence arrived in Seattle and took possession of the King County Poor Farm on the Duwamish River.

1878 Rev. John Baptiste Boulet arrived at Tulalip to replace Father Chirouse.  Father Boulet brought a printing press with him, on which he printed many items in Snohomish and English.

1879 Rev. Aegidius Junger was ordained second Bishop of Nesqually.  For more reading, please see the biographical article about Bishop Aegidius Junger

1880 The Sisters of Holy Names opened Holy Names Academy in Seattle.  For more reading, please see 1880: Establishment of Holy Names Academy, Seattle

1883 The Sisters of Providence built a new Providence Hospital on 5th and Madison.

1887 The Sisters of Providence established St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. The first patient had a leg fracture.  For more reading, please see 1887: St. Peter Hospital, Olympia

1888 A mission school for Indians, St. George’s Indian Industrial School, Milton, was established by Rev. Peter Hylebos and staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis.  For more reading, please see 1888: St. George's Indian Industrial School

1893 The first record of the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Washington State, was made at Immaculate Conception Parish in Seattle.

1895 The St. James Mission Claim of Vancouver, WA, was argued before the Supreme Court. The Court found in favor of the government and awarded the land to the military reservation of Ft. Vancouver.

        The Benedictine Fathers opened St. Martin’s College near Olympia.  For more reading, plase see 1895: St. Martin's College, Lacey

1896 Rev. Edward J. O’Dea was ordained third Bishop of the Diocese of Nesqually.  For more reading, please see the biographical article about Bishop Edward J. O'Dea

1898 Seattle College (Seattle University) received its charter from Washington State.

1902 The first Council of the Knights of Columbus in Washington was organized.

1903 Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini and members of her Order, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, arrived in Seattle. They founded a home for orphans on Beacon Hill.  For more reading, please see Catholic Northwest Progress, "Did You Know..." St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

1905 A bill granting the diocese $2,500 for the cost of its buildings on the St. James Mission claim was narrowly passed by Congress.

1906 Good Tidings, a monthly periodical printed by Father Boulet, was published. Two important items serialized in Good Tidings were F.N. Blanchet’s Historical Sketches and J.B.A. Brouillet’s Authentic Account of the Murder of Dr. Whitman.  For more reading, please see 1906: "Good Tidings" published by the Reverend J. B. Boulet

1907 The  See and name of the Diocese of Nesqually were officially transferred to Seattle.

        St. James Cathedral, Seattle, was dedicated.   For more reading, please see 1907: Dedication of St. James Cathedral, Seattle

1909 Briscoe Memorial School for Boys, located in the Kent Valley, opened. It was staffed by Christian Brothers and the Sisters of St. Dominic.

        The first “chapel car” from the Catholic Church Extension Society arrived in the Pacific Northwest.

The Society of the Sacred Heart established Forest Ridge Academy for girls in Seattle.

1913 St. Martin’s College in Lacey was dedicated.

        Mother Cabrini visited Seattle a second time and purchased the property on which Sacred Heart Orphanage (now Villa Academy) would be built. 

        The Diocese of Spokane was established.

1915 Mother Cabrini returned a third time to Seattle and founded a home for infants. She purchased the Perry Hotel on First Hill, which was later named Columbus Hospital, and finally St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Hospital.

1920 Maryknoll Sisters established a Japanese mission in Seattle. The center was located on Spruce Street.  For more reading, please see 1920: Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School and Parish, Seattle

1921 St. Martin’s College in Lacey began an experimental reforestation program. Two thousand white pines were planted on college land.

1924 Initiative 49, an anti-private school bill sponsored by the Ku Klux Klan in Washington State, was defeated by nearly 59,000 votes. The Klan had been more successful in Oregon; in 1922, the Oregon School Bill had passed into law. This anti-private school bill was declared unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court in 1924 (Society of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary of Oregon vs. Gov. Walter Pierce, et al.).  For more reading, please see Catholic Northwest Progress: "Did You Know..." The Klan and Initiative 49

1925 One of the miraculous cures accredited to Mother Cabrini occurred in Seattle at Sacred Heart Orphanage. Sister Delfina Grazioli recovered from an incurable disease after Mother Cabrini appeared to her and told her she would be healed.

1926 St. Vincent de Paul Salvage Bureau was organized in Seattle.  For more reading, please see 1926: St. Vincent de Paul Salvage Bureau organized

        Our Lady Queen of Martyrs was established as a parish for Japanese and Filipino people.  For more reading, please see 1920: Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School and Parish, Seattle

        The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women undertook the care of the Newman House for the Catholic Students of the University of Washington.

 1927 Manresa Hall, the Tertianship for Jesuits in the California Province, opened in Port Townsend.  For more reading, please see Catholic Northwest Progress: "Did You Know..." Manresa and the Jesuits

1931 St. Edward's Seminary dedicated.  For more reading, please see 1931: St. Edward's Seminary Dedicated

1933 Rev. Gerald Shaughnessy was appointed Bishop of Seattle.  For more reading, please see the biographical article about Bishop Gerald Shaughnessy

1934 The first Serra Club was founded in Seattle by four businessmen.  Its purpose was to promote vocations to the priesthood.

        Seattle College High School officially became Seattle Preparatory School.

1937  The Catholic Truth Society began to use St. Paul’s Trailer Chapel, a Motor Mission.  For more reading, please see Catholic Northwest Progress: "Did You Know..." Motor Mission

1942 The first evening Mass in the Northwest was offered for the soldiers at Ft. Lewis.

1948 Most Rev. Thomas A. Connolly was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Seattle.  For more reading, please see the biographical article about Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly

1950 The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) was established in the Diocese of Seattle.  For more reading, please see Catholic Northwest Progress: "Did You Know..." CYO Began in 1950

        The Centen of the Diocese was celebrated.

        Most Rev. Thomas A. Connolly succeeded as Bishop of the Diocese of Seattle.

1951 The Diocese of Yakima was established.  For more reading, please see 1951: Diocese of Yakima established

        Seattle was elevated to an Archdiocese and Bishop Connolly to an Archbishop.

1955 Blanchet High School, Seattle, dedicated.  For more reading, please see 1955: Dedication of Blanchet High School, Seattle

1956 A Rosary Crusade was held at the University of Washington stadium.  For more reading, please see 1956: Rosary Crusade held at U. of Washington Stadium

        The Redemptorist’s Retreat House for men opened in Federal Way.

Rev. Thomas Gill was ordained Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Seattle.  For more reading, please see 1956: Rev. Thomas Gill ordained Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Seattle

        The Hungarian Refugee Resettlement Office was created. Two hundred seventy-five refugees were brought to the Northwest under diocesan sponsorship.

1957 The Visitation Retreat House for Women opened at Dash Point.

1957 Seattle University opened a Sister Formation program on its campus.  For more reading, please see 1957: College of Sister Formation created at Seattle University

1958 St. Thomas the Apostle Seminary at Kenmore opened.  For more reading, please see 1958: St. Thomas the Apostle Seminary opened

1959 The first official director of the archdiocesan Confratemity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program was appointed.

1960 Providence Hospital of Seattle received a grant to establish a heart center.

KOMO-TV began production of Challenge, a religious public service program.   For more reading, please see Catholic Northwest Progress: "Did You Know..." Challenge TV Program

1962 The Archdiocese of Seattle sponsored the 47th Liturgical Conference, covering many issues that would be discussed at Vatican II.

1964 The Josephinum, a residence for retired men and women, opened in downtown Seattle.

        The Catholic Interracial Council was established.  For more reading, please see Catholic Northwest Progress: "Did You Know..." Catholic Interracial Council

1968 John F. Kennedy High School in Burien dedicated.  For more reading, please see 1968: Dedication of John F. Kennedy High School, Burien

        The first Spanish-language Mass was celebrated at Immaculate Conception Parish, Seattle.

1969 An Ecumenical Officer was appointed for the Archdiocese, responding to some of the issues of Vatican II and local needs.

1971 Forest Ridge Convent School moved from Capitol Hill, Seattle, to a newly constructed facility in Bellevue.

1975 The Most Rev. Raymond G. Hunthausen was installed as Archbishop of Seattle.  For more reading, please see the biographical article about Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen

        The Most Rev. Thomas A. Connolly retired.

1976 Nicholas Walsh appointed auxiliary bishop.

1983 Bishop Nicholas Walsh resigned.

1985 Donald W. Wuerl was appointed auxiliary bishop as part of an apostolic vistation investigating administrative and pastoral practices.

1987 The Most Rev. Thomas J. Murphy was appointed coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese.  For more reading, please see the biographical article about Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy

1988 Rev. Donald W. Wuerl was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

1991 The Most Rev. Raymond G. Hunthausen retired, succeeded by the Most Rev. Thomas J. Murphy.

1997 The Most Rev. Alexander J. Brunett was installed as Archbishop of Seattle.  For more reading, please see the biographical article about Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett

2000 Rev. George L. Thomas ordained auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese.

2004 Rev. George L. Thomas appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Helena.

2005 Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Tyson ordained for the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Sources:

• Schoenberg, Wilfred, S.J., A Chronicle of the Catholic History of the Pacific Northwest 1743-1960, Gonzaga Preparatory School, 1962
• Schoenberg, Wilfred, S.J., A History of the Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest 1743-1983, Pastoral Press, 1987