Originally built in 1887 as a resort, the first structure on what is now National Park Seminary was converted into a girls’ finishing school by the beginning of the 20th century. Under the guidance of three different headmasters, the site transformed itself into what The New York Times has called a “Fairy-Tale Setting.” The 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago influenced much of the diverse architecture and landscaping, and the school’s first headmaster purchased a book of plans at the exposition from which many of the single-family homes on the site were designed. At its peak, National Park Seminary boasted tuition rates higher than both Harvard and Yale and catered to some of the nation’s most influential families.

Taken over by the Army during World War II, the peaceful grounds served as a rehabilitative hospital for wounded soldiers until the buildings became surplus to government needs following the Vietnam War. Now comes a new incarnation: one-of-a-kind homes, surrounded by a serene glen – the historic condominiums at National Park Seminary.

For more information on the history of National Park Seminary, visit http://www.saveourseminary.org/