Woodward School

St. George's first classes met in a wagon box, a tent, a willow shack — whatever the winter of 1861 offered. Forty years later the town finally built a real school: red sandstone on a foundation of volcanic rock cut for an academy that never happened, twelve classrooms, opened in 1901. It carries the name of George Woodward, a childless school-board chairman who gave thousands of his own dollars, the heating plant, and the building's first piano. It taught St. George children for a full century and, restored, still holds classes today on Town Square.

What the plaque says

When the first settlers arrived in St. George late in 1861, school was held in a wagon box, a tent, a willow shack, or whatever shelter could be improvised. By 1864, the first of four ward houses was completed. It was not until nearly the end of the 1800s that work on a large, substantial school began. Woodward School, located one block south and one block west of here, was completed in 1901. The school was built on a black volcanic rock foundation, and its walls are of red sandstone from the same quarry that furnished the stone for the Tabernacle. The building, housing twelve classrooms and a basement, cost $35,000 to build. It was paid for principally out of tax revenues, yet as was the case with so many of the early Dixie Projects, it also benefited from the substantial contributions of local citizens. The name Woodward School was given to the building in honor of George Woodward, one of the trustees who had devoted his time and means to make the dream of better education facilities a reality in St. George. It is said that he gave $3,600 of his own money towards its construction- a truly large sum of money for that day. Since the school opened its doors to students in September of 1901, it has served generation after generation of young learners. Today it remains an imposing, handsome and useable structure- another example of the early settlers’ ability to build for the future.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm — 2.6 mi
  Real dinosaur footprints preserved in ancient sandstone
• Snow Canyon State Park — 7.0 mi
  Red and white sandstone cliffs with ancient lava flows
• Hurricane Canal Trail — 17 mi
  The hand-dug canal that built Hurricane, now a walking trail blasted into the Virgin River gorge
• Kolob Canyons — 32 mi
  The quiet, uncrowded back door to Zion National Park

More markers nearby

• The Desert Shall Blossom — steps away
• St. George Temple — steps away
• Pioneer Courthouse — steps away
• St. George Tabernacle — steps away