The Story of Case Western Reserve University
Upcoming Events
We’re celebrating our bicentennial with a calendar full of exciting events for students, alumni, faculty, staff and members of our community.
Shaping Our History
Case Western Reserve’s history is marked by trailblazing people, landmark discoveries and important milestones. These timelines reflect examples of CWRU’s larger story—a story we’ll continue to expand and share throughout the bicentennial.
Points in Time
For two centuries, Case Western Reserve has been a leader in education, research and advancing humanity. Travel through time and explore key periods in CWRU history. We’ll continue to expand the timeline throughout the bicentennial.
1826Western Reserve College was founded in 1826 in Hudson, Ohio, about 30 miles southeast of Cleveland. The college–the first in Northern Ohio–took its name from the surrounding region, known at that time as the Western Reserve of Connecticut.
1843Case Western Reserve’s first chapter played out against the backdrop of the Civil War and reconstruction, and was characterized by a medical college that defied norms by admitting women and the drafting of the University Circle blueprint.
1880Case School of Applied Science was established in 1880 in Cleveland, Ohio, thanks to a monumental gift from Leonard Case Jr., who had initiated a secret trust. The founding would come just ahead of Western Reserve’s relocation.
Give for the Future
Celebrate our bicentennial by investing in future generations of CWRU students. Make a gift to support scholarships or give to the area of campus that means most to you.
Spirit Apparel
From the field to the classroom, CWRU students, alumni and families can celebrate and showcase their school pride with bicentennial apparel, home decor and more.