Loyola Marymount University traces its origins back to St. Vincent’s College for Boys, founded in 1865 by the Vincentian Fathers. The first classes were held in the Lugo Adobe House at the southeast end of Olvera Street in Los Angeles. Two years later, the school moved to Hill Street. In 1887, St. Vincent’s College moved again to a new campus on Grand Avenue and Washington Boulevard.
When St. Vincent’s College closed in 1911, members of the Society of Jesus opened the high school division of their newly founded Los Angeles College. Due to rapid growth, the college moved to Venice Blvd. in 1917. A year later the school was incorporated as Loyola College of Los Angeles. Graduate instruction began in 1920 with the foundation of a separate law school.
Real estate developer Harry H. Culver offered approximately 100 acres of land on the Del Rey Hills bluffs to Loyola College in October 1927, with the move taking place in1928. The land was offered to establish a new campus in what is now the Westchester area of Los Angeles, provided the college built two major buildings within two years.
The school achieved university status one year later, becoming Loyola University of Los Angeles. Loyola University and Marymount College, partnered with St. Joseph College of Orange, began affiliation in 1968 and officially merged into Loyola Marymount University in 1973. The university’s campus has since expanded to roughly142 acres.
