Portier wished to found a convent for the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary so that they could provide education to girls in his diocese, due to a lack of schools.

He obtained permission from Pope Gregory XVI for that purpose and in 1832 the first five sisters arrived from Georgetown.

[3] The academy taught 40 students the first year and enrollment continued to increase up until a fire in May 1854 destroyed the buildings.

Architect James Henry Hutchisson designed these buildings in a French Renaissance style.

The interiors of Sacred Heart Chapel were completely restored beginning in 1998 with rededication late in 1999.