Whittier Jr. High School Building
- LOCATION:
- 1887 – 1923: 1st building at 23rd & Vine
- 1923 – Present: 2nd building at 22nd & Vine
- OPERATION: 1893·1980
Whittier was an elementary school until 1923 when the new building was completed. This new Whittier is unique in American education. It was one of the first schools actually built as a junior high school, compared to most previous junior highs across the country which had been conversions.
Whittier was named for the American poet, John Greenleaf Whittier (1807- 1892), who is remembered as a powerful opponent of slavery and the author of much prose and poetry.
In 1977 the junior high was closed but the building, called “Whittier Center,” was used until 1980 as an alternative high school. The building was purchased by the University of Nebraska in 1983.
One of the most beautiful buildings ever built in Lincoln, it sat largely unused (except for storage) for more than 20 years due to a shortage of funds and uncertainty as to is ultimate use by the University.
In June 2007, NU regents approved plans to renovate Whittier into a state-of-the-art child care and research facility through a $23.75 million environmentally friendly renovation of the building. Work is slated to be completed in 2010.
- ‘Whittier School renovations moving right along,‘ by Kevin Abourezk, Lincoln Journal Star, Friday, January 30, 2009
- ‘Digging in to save energy,‘ by Troy Fedderson, University Communications, UNL Scarlett, May 7th, 2009
Updated August 29, 2024
