Hunthausen

The Hunthausen room is named for Archbishop Raymond Gerhardt Hunthausen, who sought to reuse this land as a state park rather than selling for development at a higher price. 

When Saint Edward Seminary closed in 1976 due to declining enrollment, Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen had a vision of preserving the grounds as a state park, having fallen in love with the area’s natural beauty as a student at Saint Edward Seminary. Rather than sell the property to the highest bidder, he approached then Washington governor Dixy Lee Ray and worked with the state to secure national and state funding for the park to make his dream possible.

Archbishop Hunthausen served as Archbishop of Seattle from 1975 to 1991. He is remembered most for his support of the poor and disenfranchised. He was also a great advocate for the youth and encouraged better catechesis in Catholic parishes and Catholic parochial schools despite waning enrollment. In 1985, he helped establish the Institute for Theological Studies at Seattle University, which in 1996 evolved into the School of Theology and Ministry.