Ever since the university's earliest years, the site of Washington Hall has been associated in the minds of Notre Dame students, alumni, faculty and staff with music, entertainment and recreation.

As early as 1846, the combination of a recognition that Notre Dame would have to provide its own entertainment and a French-inspired appreciation for the fine, dramatic and musical arts led the university's founders to reserve a building for artistic instruction and performance.

On April 23, 1879, however, the life of the university changed abruptly when a fire destroyed the five major campus buildings, including the music hall.

Although the university literally stood in ashes, the Congregation of Holy Cross was determined to rebuild Notre Dame.

[4] Washington Hall was built in the “Modern Gothic” style so popular in the 19th-century Midwest and so much in evidence in Notre Dame's oldest buildings.

Frescoes and murals by Luigi Geogori and Signor Rusca included four emblematic figures of tragedy, comedy, music and poetry above which were portraits of Shakespeare, Molière, Mozart and Dante.

[7] He contrasted this with the artistic freedom of the Catholicism found at Notre Dame, which had allowed such a play with themes such as incest and parricide.

After a warm welcome by the student body, he lay a wreath under statue of Father Corby and planted a tree in honor of his visit.

Inclusion of a district, site or building on the National Register is determined after both state and federal review boards have assessed the quality of significance of the nominated property in American history, architecture, archaeology and culture.

Notre Dame's historic district was assessed to be of significance particularly in the areas of architecture, community planning and educational and religious history.

The building is divided into five main uses for student groups: 550 seat auditorium suitable for theatrical productions, musicals, pageants, and lectures.