Many of the first seminarians of the diocese were tutored by bishop Joseph Crétin and other clerical teachers in the rectory next to the Cathedral of Saint Paul.

[3]: 159  In November 1866, Grace purchased 40 acres (0.16 km2) on the shores of Lake Johanna for the purpose of establishing a permanent seminary.

[2]: 10 Grace's successor, John Ireland, took office in June 1884 and in December of that same year announced plans to build a seminary for the diocese which would become the University of St.

[2]: 186 [3]: 434, 437, 438  On the first anniversary of the death of Archbishop John Ireland, Dowling established a fund to finance the building of a preparatory seminary.

[3]: 489  Dowling was nevertheless resistant to hearing any criticism of his project, and furnished a personal suite at the school for his frequent retreats and visits there.

Coursework for the students included classes in Latin, Gregorian chant, math, the sciences, and social studies.

Not all students who attended Nazareth ended up becoming priests, and so over time seminary leadership worked to make the curriculum suitable preparation for life outside of the priesthood.

[9][10] Students had basketball leagues, and played pool, handball, football, skating, skiing, table tennis, and other sports.

[12][13][14] The Sisters of Saint Francis (OSF) assisted with the domestic operations of the seminary and lived in one of the wings of the building.

[3]: 662  In 1962, St. Austin's House (now called Riley Hall) was added on to the main complex due to growth in the seminary body throughout the 1950s.

But due to declining enrollment after the Second Vatican Council, by 1967 the 4-4-4 plan seemed no longer feasible and there was a stronger desire to create a college seminary at the University of St. Thomas and close Nazareth Hall.

[19][20] The campus of Nazareth Hall, which is still maintained and is in active use by the University of Northwestern – St. Paul, primarily consists of "six buildings in one.

[25] It was originally built in 1925 as a crypt for benefactor Wilhelmine Coolbaugh, who donated the money for its construction herself, with the approval of Archbishop Dowling.

[26] The exterior of the chapel is made with limestone, and above the entrance is a mosaic of an angel holding a scroll with the words "Regina Angelorum ora pro nobis" (transl.

[26] Directly above the door is the Latin inscription "Ego mater pulchrae delectionis et timoris et agnitionis et sanctae spei" (transl.