Bicentennial year

The new year marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of Western Reserve College, the beginning of today’s Case Western Reserve University. The university plans a series of Bicentennial events that will honor the many facets of CWRU.

That includes honoring the Case legacy, which began in 1880 with the founding of the Case School of Applied Science. Case and Western Reserve merged in 1967, creating a university that also includes the legacies of Adelbert College, the Flora Stone Mather College for Women, and the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.

“All of those schools are part of our history and we celebrate each of them,” said CWRU President Eric Kaler. “Certainly all of our alumni should be part of this celebration. We are a cloth weaved together from many strands, and the oldest strand is the one reaching back to Western Reserve, founded in Hudson in 1826.”

Commemorative events will include receptions, performances, historical exhibits, and perhaps a speaker series.

Events begin Feb. 7 with a 200th birthday party at Tinkham Veale University Center. The free Saturday afternoon festival will be open to students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Plans call for musical performances, food, exhibits, and activities.

On June 4, the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra will play a special concert in honor of CWRU and its Bicentennial at Severance Music Center.

Plans are still in the works for a speaker series that may honor the innovations and inventions that CWRU gave to the world. Meanwhile, hometown celebrations have been taking place in select cities, including international cities, since Feb. 7, 2025, and will continue through the Bicentennial year.

The university plans to close the Bicentennial celebration at Homecoming 2026.

A Bicentennial section on the CWRU website includes historical snap-shots as well as events and how to register: Go to case.edu/bicentennial/