The Historic Trust

The Historic Trust: Celebrating History. Inspiring Tomorrow. 

The Historic Trust plays a vital role in the region by fostering preservation, restoration and stewardship some of our most iconic historic treasures – Officers Row and Providence Academy – and by cultivating community vibrancy with annual celebrations and special events that help people create new memories in these special places.

One current focus for the Trust is creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors to the Providence Academy. Since acquiring the property in 2015, our staff, donors, volunteers, and community partners have poured an immense amount of love and care into rehabilitating and stewarding this regional treasure. 

This summer,In 1936, ivy consumed Providence Academy's main entrance. Photo credit: Providence Archives, 22.D2.20a we break ground on the Sacred Heart Plaza at Ed Lynch Square, which includes the Sacred Heart Garden designed by Mother Joseph herself. This transformative project, funded by the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington and additionally supported by GiveBIG donors and the Price Foundation, will bring new community gathering space and green space to this historic corner of downtown Vancouver, making an inviting and welcoming space for all. We look forward to sharing this project with the community when it is complete in fall 2025, and we can't wait for you to see it in full bloom in spring of 2026.

As we advance this ambitious landscape project to completion, we are now also turning our attention to the gateway into the magnificent building designed and built by Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart: the main entrance to Providence Academy.

We need your help now to preserve and repair the Academy entryway. 

The well-built brick and stone structure has stood the test of time with maintenance and patching but now needs detailed preservation, roof leak repair, cleaning, and preventive safety work for users now and in future generations. Doing this work now continues the Trust's mission of caring for this building on behalf of the community, and will also create a more welcoming transition from the beautiful, new public plaza and gardens to the interior of this beloved place.

Please help us create a refreshed welcome to visitors from near and far into this iconic community landmark for generations to come!