A Photo Tour of Annie Wright Schools
Ghostly Activities Club members (Melissa and Amy) met with Anna and Daniel (from our Manresa Castle documentary) for a walking tour of the Annie Wright Schools in Tacoma. They took loads of pics. Check out the galleries and get some history to boot after the jump.
Annie Wright — The Enigmatic Namesake
You’d think a school as old and respected as Annie Wright would have a whole biography ready to go about its namesake. But here’s the thing — there isn’t much out there about Annie Wright herself. For real. It’s one of those little historical mysteries that lingers like fog over Tacoma.
What we do know is pretty simple. Annie was the daughter of Charles Barstow Wright, one of the big names behind Tacoma’s early days. He was a railroad tycoon, developer, and philanthropist. In short, he had money, influence, and a knack for shaping cities. When he helped found the school in 1884, he named it after Annie — but Annie didn’t actually have a role in running it. In fact, the Wrights never even visited the school. They stayed in Philadelphia.
The few records about Annie suggest she lived most of her life out of the spotlight. She married, had a daughter named Suzanne, and sadly, passed away when Suzanne was just three years old.
It also doesn’t help that, back then, women’s stories didn’t always make it into the history books — especially if they weren’t activists or famous in some other way. Even for someone like Annie, whose name ended up carved into stone over a school’s doorway, her personal story seems to have faded quietly. We only know that she was described as quiet, unassuming, very religious and very little else. Her legacy is largely determined by her father, the railroad magnate.
The Architecture of Annie Wright Schools
The Exterior — Georgian Revival Vibes
You don’t just see Annie Wright Schools—you feel them. The moment you step onto the grounds, it’s like walking into another time. The buildings rise up with this old-world charm that wouldn’t look out of place in an English village, or honestly, in a spooky story.
The current school was designed by the architecture firm, Sutton, Whitney & Dugan in the 1920s. While it shares some style with Stadium High School, they had different architecture firms.
Annie Wright School’s Georgian style is no joke. It’s got that perfect blend of beauty and intimidation. The kind of place you imagine having secret passageways, even if you know better. Heavy brick walls, sharp lines, and ivy crawling along the edges give it this storybook look, especially when Tacoma’s famous fog rolls in. It’s no wonder people whisper about it maybe being haunted.
Even if you don’t buy into ghost stories, you can’t deny the mood this place sets. It’s stately, sure—but it’s also got a little edge. Like it’s daring you to come a little closer and explore.
The Interior — Wood, Quiet Halls, and Hidden Corners
Inside, it’s a different story—but just as charming. The hallways are lined with original woodwork, much of it dark and polished with age. Fireplaces still stand in some of the common areas, giving off cozy vibes, even when the school is empty and the quiet settles in a little too much.
There’s this hush to the place, like the walls are holding their breath. As Melissa, Amy, Anna and Daniel walked through during their tour, it felt respectful, like the building knows it’s got history—and it’s not in a rush to tell you all its secrets.
You’ll find stained glass windows tucked in unexpected corners, and staircases that curve just enough to make you wonder what’s waiting at the top. Over the years, the school has updated its spaces—modern classrooms, labs, and gathering spots—but they’ve kept a lot of the old details intact. Honestly, it works. It’s like the school knows how to balance the old with the new.
Walking around, the club members noticed how the rooms aren’t just functional. They feel lived-in. Not worn out—but full of stories. The club members kept catching themselves imagining all the students who had walked these halls, whispered about exams, pulled pranks, or maybe even swapped ghost stories late at night.
And yes, the Ghostly club members (Amy, Melissa, Anna and Daniel) took plenty of photos. The light filtering through those tall windows? Chef’s kiss. I’ll drop a few shots throughout the post so you can see for yourself.
Alright, let’s dive into the fun stuff.
Quirky Traditions of Annie Wright Schools
May Day — A Strange but Sweet Tradition
Now, here’s something you don’t expect from a school with Episcopal roots — May Day. Yes, that May Day. With the flower crowns, the maypole, and students weaving ribbons to old folk songs.
Every spring, Annie Wright Schools hosts a full-on May Day celebration. It’s one of their oldest and most beloved traditions. Students dress in white, carry flowers, and perform dances that look like they were pulled straight from a countryside village festival. The youngest kids even crown a May Queen. It’s wholesome, sure—but also a little unexpected.
You’d think a religious school might have dropped a holiday like this, especially since May Day has roots going all the way back to ancient spring rituals. But nope, it’s still going strong. It’s become less about old pagan customs and more about marking the change of seasons and celebrating the students.
And honestly? I think it fits. This school is all about tradition. Not just the formal ones you put on a brochure, but the ones that stick because they matter to the people who live them year after year.
The Hidden Shovel — A Senior Prank with a Curse
Then there’s the other tradition. The one that feels like it belongs in an old urban legend. I’m talking about the Hidden Shovel.
Every year, the seniors pull a prank—but not just any prank. They hide a shovel somewhere on campus for the juniors to find. No big deal, right? Just good fun?
Not exactly.
See, there’s a catch. If the juniors don’t find the shovel before their senior year, their class is cursed. Some classes have even blamed bad test scores, unlucky events, and all sorts of weird happenings on missing the shovel.
Now, is it just superstition? Probably. Does it stop the juniors from turning the campus upside down to find it? Not a chance.
It’s the perfect kind of tradition for a place like Annie Wright. A little silly. A little spooky. And totally unforgettable. Even as the school modernizes, this is one of those rituals that sticks. And honestly, I hope it never goes away.
Annie Wright Schools Today
A lot has changed since the school first opened its doors back in 1884. What started as Annie Wright Seminary for Girls is now Annie Wright Schools — plural. Today, it’s a thriving campus with students from all over the world. And yes, it still leans into its history without getting stuck in it.
One of the biggest changes? The addition of the Upper School for Boys. For years, Annie Wright was seen as a girls-only space. But in 2017, the school opened its boys’ upper school, giving male students the same academic rigor, traditions, and slightly spooky charm that the girls have known for generations. The lower and middle schools are still co-ed, but now, both boys and girls have their own upper school paths while sharing the same campus.
It’s also a full International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. That means students here aren’t just learning to pass tests—they’re learning to think globally, problem-solve, and stretch themselves in ways most schools don’t demand. It’s no wonder the school has such a strong reputation, not just around Tacoma, but internationally.
Walking the campus, you feel that blend of old and new. There’s Wi-Fi and modern labs, sure. But there’s also creaking wood floors, stained glass, and hallways that feel like they remember everyone who’s passed through them. The May Day celebration still blooms every spring. And somewhere on campus, a shovel is always hidden—waiting.
Annie Wright Schools have figured out something a lot of places haven’t. You don’t have to choose between tradition and progress. You can have both. You can honor the past while building something new.
And honestly? That might be the real magic of the place.
Thanks for reading this not-so-typical post on Ghostly Activities. If you’ve been to Annie Wright Schools and have a spooky tale to tell, let me know in the comments below. Much appreciated. Take care!
