Here stands Cunningham Hall a testament to women’s resilience. Originally built in 1909 for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition it was the Woman’s Building. It served as a vibrant hub for women’s activities. A restaurant served inexpensive lunches. A nursery cared for hundreds of children daily. It showcased the art of Washington women. It hosted meetings for important women’s groups. Suffragists like Jeanette Rankin a future Congresswoman even spoke there.
After the Exposition the building continued as a center for university and community women. It housed the dean of women’s office and various clubs and teams. Women athletes successfully lobbied for a “W” to represent them in sports. Seattle women also used the building. They socialized with students. They recruited them to work on various causes.
The building’s role changed after women gained the right to vote in 1920. Many believed they no longer needed a women’s network. The building’s importance faded. It became storage space. This neglect lasted for decades.
Then in the 1980s a resurgence of feminism led to the building’s rediscovery. Women reclaimed it naming it Cunningham Hall. The name honors Imogen Cunningham a pioneering photographer and University of Washington alumna. The rededication in 1983 was not without protest. Budget cuts to women-dominated programs angered some.
Today Cunningham Hall houses the Women’s Information Center and the Northwest Center for Research on Women. It continues to showcase women’s art. It’s a reminder of the ongoing fight for equality. It stands as a symbol of women’s strength. The building even moved in 2009 to make way for a new building. It was carefully relocated to its current spot. Cunningham Hall’s journey reflects the persistent spirit of the women it represents.