Originally a single building at the end of Garfield Street (now Harstad Hall), Pacific Lutheran University was chartered by the state of Washington in 1890 as Pacific Lutheran Academy. The academy became a junior college in 1920, and a full four-year university in 1940. Founded by Norwegian Lutherans, PLU continues to be a center for Scandinavian and Lutheran culture in the Pacific Northwest. The Parkland community surrounding PLU has provided support for the university throughout its history. In the early years, PLU students boarded with Parkland families during the span of their education. Many PLU professors were members of the greater community as well, their houses just steps away from campus. How has the area's history influenced today's community? In this section, we will further explore the historical links between the university and Parkland.