History
Bellingham High School was dedicated on February 25, 1938. It cost $912,028.63 and took 417,026 man hours to build.
The school was closed for two years starting in June 1998 for a massive renovation which involved gutting the entire building and even demolishing some portions. Special care was taken to preserve the art deco facade on the west side of the building.
From its inception the school mascot was the "Red Raider", a native American Indian chief with a massive war bonnet. In the years leading up to the school's renovation there were several occasions where questions were raised about the political correctness of such a mascot. Tradition won out until the school district seized upon the opportunity presented by the two year closure and renovation to change the mascot. Upon the school's reopening the Indian chief had changed to a bird of prey.
For much of the 2009-2010 school year Bellingham High School housed eighth graders from Whatcom Middle School after their school burnt down on November 5, 2009.
Read more about this topic: Bellingham High School
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