| 1847 |
Settlements
created in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa by citizens
from the Netherlands. |
| 1848 |
"Holland" Michigan
platted as a "Village." |
| 1850 |
A "Tract
of Land" donated by the Rev. A.C. Van Raalte, later known as "The
Five Acres" and designated as a site for "The Academy." |
| 1851 |
"The
Pioneer School" the first educational institution in the new
settlement, formally opened on "The Five Acres" in October. |
| 1853 |
The
General Synod of the Reformed Church in America assumed control
of the school. |
| 1858 |
Van
Vleck Hall erected on "The Five Acres." |
| 1859 |
"Five
Acres" enlarged to 16 acres and designated "The College Campus." |
| 1862 |
The
first freshman class, 10 in number, matriculated, September. |
| 1865 |
Philip
Phelps, Jr. elected first president of Hope College; inaugurated,
July 12, 1866 |
| 1866 |
Charter
of Incorporation as a College of Liberal Arts granted by the
State of Michigan, May 14. |
| 1866 |
First
Commencement of Hope College, July 17. |
| 1876 |
The
Rev. A.C. Van Raalte died, November 7. |
| 1878 |
Giles
Mandeville begins service as provisional president of Hope
College. |
| 1880 |
Charles
Scott begins service as provisional president of Hope College.
Elected Hope's second president in 1885; inaugurated, June
21, 1886. |
| 1886 |
Construction
started on the President's Home (completed in 1892). |
| 1892 |
Graves
Library and Winants Chapel cornerstone laid October 12; dedicated,
June 26, 1894. |
| 1893 |
Gerrit
J. Kollen elected third president of Hope College; inaugurated,
June 27, 1894. |
| 1903 |
Van
Raalte Memorial Hall dedicated, September (destroyed by fire
April 28, 1980). |
| 1906 |
Carnegie
Gymnasium dedicated, June (renamed "Carnegie-Schouten Gymnasium" in
1954; razed in July, 1982). |
| 1907 |
Elizabeth
R. Voorhees Girls Residence dedicated, June. |
| 1911 |
Ame
Vennema 1879 elected fourth president of Hope College; inaugurated,
February 19, 1912. |
| 1918 |
Edward
D. Dimnent elected fifth president of Hope College; inaugurated,
May 14, 1919. |
| 1929 |
The
Memorial Chapel dedicated, June (renamed "Dimnent Memorial
Chapel" in 1959). |
| 1931 |
Wynand
Wichers elected sixth president of Hope College; inaugurated,
October 12, 1931. |
| 1938 |
Hope
Preparatory School, originally "The Pioneer School," discontinued. |
| 1942 |
Science
Building (later "Lubbers Hall") formally opened, September
16. |
| 1945 |
Irwin
J. Lubbers '17 elected seventh president of Hope College; begins,
Summer, 1945. |
| 1950 |
Formal
opening of Winifred Hackley Durfee Hall, residence hall for
women, September 26. |
| 1956 |
Music
Hall completed (named for the late John B. Nykerk in 1962). |
| 1956 |
Kollen
Hall opened (dedicated, September 1, 1957). |
| 1960 |
Phelps
Hall dedicated. |
| 1961 |
Van
Zoeren Library opened September (dedicated, October 8; renamed
Van Zoeren Hall in 1988). |
| 1963 |
Calvin
A. VanderWerf '37 elected eighth president of Hope College;
inaugurated, November 16, 1963. |
| 1963 |
Fraternity
Dormitory Complex opened. |
| 1963 |
Gilmore
Hall opened, September. |
| 1964 |
Physics
Mathematics Hall opened September (renamed "VanderWerf Hall
of Physics and Mathematics," October 9, 1981). |
| 1967 |
Dykstra
Hall completed, September. |
| 1969 |
Brumler
House for apartment living dedicated, September 28. |
| 1970 |
William
Vander Lugt begins service as chancellor of Hope College (until
1972) |
| 1970 |
Wynand
Wichers addition to Nykerk Hall of Music dedicated, October
25. |
| 1971 |
DeWitt
Student and Cultural Center opened, September; main theatre
renovated, 1996-97. |
| 1972 |
Gordon
J. Van Wylen elected ninth president of Hope College; inaugurated,
October 13, 1972. |
| 1973 |
Peale
Science Center opened, August. Major renovation completed,
Summer, 2004. |
| 1978 |
Dow
Health and Physical Education Center opened, August. |
| 1982 |
College
East Apartments opened, August. |
| 1982 |
DePree
Art Center and gallery, a former furniture factory, dedicated,
October 15. |
| 1983 |
The
118th Commencement ceremony conducted at Holland Municipal
Stadium, the first Commencement held outdoors in Hope's history,
May 8. |
| 1986 |
Maas
Student and Conference Center constructed. |
| 1987 |
John
H. Jacobson, Jr., elected 10th president of Hope College; inaugurated,
October 10, 1987. |
| 1988 |
Van
Wylen Library dedicated, April 21. |
| 1988 |
The
Holland Theatre downtown donated to the college and renamed
and reopened by Hope as the Knickerbocker Theatre. |
| 1988 |
Admissions
House completed, May. |
| 1989 |
College
Guest House at 85 E. 10th Street opened, September; renamed
the Keppel Guest House, March 29, 1992; becomes Campus Ministries
office, summer, 1994; moved to 129 E. 10th Street, August 16,
1995. |
| 1990 |
Van
Andel Plaza dedicated, August 17. |
| 1990 |
Paul
G. Fried International Center dedicated, September 22; International
Education moves to the Martha Miller Center for Global Communication,
summer 2005 |
| 1990 |
Van
Zoeren/VanderWerf renovation and DeWitt Center for Economics
Business dedicated, October 12. |
| 1991 |
The
track and field facilities at the Ekdal J. Buys athletic complex
are named in honor of Gordon Brewer '48, April 27. |
| 1991 |
Lugers
Fieldhouse dedicated, September 28. |
| 1994 |
Six-court,
indoor DeWitt Tennis Center dedicated, October 14. |
| 1996 |
78-84
E. Eighth St. and 100 E. Eighth St. purchased, announced October
2. |
| 1997 |
Statue
of the Rev. A.C. Van Raalte dedicated at Centennial Park as
part of the city's sesquicentennial celebration, May 1. |
| 1997 |
Haworth
Inn and Conference Center completed, January; dedicated, May
22. |
| 1997 |
Cook
Hall dedicated, October 17. |
| 1998 |
James
E. Bultman ' 63 elected the 11th president of Hope College;
inaugurated, October 22, 1999. |
| 1999 |
Addition
to Nykerk Hall of Music provides space for an organ studio;
organ dedicated, October 6, 2000. |
| 2002 |
Three
racquetball courts in the Dow Center transformed into a weight
room and fitness room; the former weight room becomes a dance
studio; summer. |
|
| 2003 |
Dykstra
Hall renovated during the summer. |
| 2003 |
The
new science center, connected to the west side of the Peale
Science Center, opens for use with the start of the school
year. |
| 2004 |
Major
renovation completed of the Peale Science Center, summer; dedication
for the science center, October 8. |
| 2005 |
The Martha Miller Center for Global Communication
opens. |
| 2005 |
The Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse opens. Both
basketball teams go undefeated in their first season in the $22 million facility. |
| 2005 |
An
addition to Cook Hall is completed. |
| 2006 |
A $3 million
renovation of historic Lubbers Hall is completed. |
| 2007 |
Work begins on a major restoration of the baseball and
softball stadiums. |
