1650 - Sisters of St. Joseph founded in Le Puy, France to the “practice of all the spiritual and
corporal works of mercy of which woman is capable and which will most benefit the dear
neighbor.”

1681 - John Baptist de La Salle opens a school in Rheims, France “for poor boys” and invites the
teachers to live in his home founding the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

1851: At the invitation of Bishop Joseph Cretin, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet establish a school in a log cabin on Bench Street in Saint Paul to educate the children of pioneers and Native Americans. The original log cabin serves as the first Cathedral, the first school, and the first hospital.

1852 - Bishop Cretin and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet open the new Cathedral Grade School at 6th and Wabasha.  This was often known as "Cretin's School." 

1871: Father John Ireland convinces the Brothers of the Christian Schools, who are headquartered in Chicago, to come to St. Paul and join the Sisters of St. Joseph to educate the older boys at the Cathedral School.

1889 - The Cathedral School moves out of the Cathedral and into its own building on 6^th & Main - the current site of Catholic Charities and the Dorothy Day Center.

1905 - The shared vision of Sister Seraphine Ireland, CSJ and Archbishop John Ireland is realized when, with the help of Hugh Derham, a wealthy famer from Rosemount, Minnesota, and with their own savings, the Sisters of St. Joseph open Derham Hall, a college preparatory school, on the site of what would become Saint Catherine University. Seventy young women, all borders from St. Joseph’s Academy near downtown Saint Paul comprise of the initial school. Sister Hyacinth Werden, CSJ serves as the first principal.

1914: A new, co-educational Cathedral Grade School, managed by the Sisters of St. Joseph, opens on Kellogg Boulevard. To ease the congestion at Cretin, the Sisters take the boys in the lower grades at Cretin to this new grade school. In this year, Cretin officially becomes a four-year high school. 

1914: Derham Hall enrollment grows to 100. The college and the high school become two separate entities and the college-age students move out of the Derham Hall building.

1917: In the wake of World War I, amid a growing tide of patriotism, military training is added to Cretin’s curriculum and in 1919, Cretin is part of the US Army inaugural Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

1928: Under the leadership of Most Reverend Austin Dowling, Archbishop of St. Paul, and with a lead gift from Mary T. Hill, widow of business magnate James J. Hill, the new Cretin High School opens on the corner of Hamline and Randolph Avenues in St. Paul.

In June, the cadets march in full military formation to review their new school. The school’s director is Brother John Joseph, FSC. 

1962 - In order to accommodate more students, Derham Hall moves to a new campus on Warwick Avenue in Saint Paul and opens with 238 students. Sister Isabella Ferrell, CSJ serves as principal. 

1986: The Sisters and the Brothers forge a merger agreement between Derham Hall High School and Cretin High School.

1987: 1115 young men and women begin classes at the newly-merged Cretin-Derham Hall, co-sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and the Christian Brothers. The first co-principals are Sister Susan Oeffling, CSJ, and Brother Michael Collins, FSC.

1990: Under the leadership of the first lay president and principal, Richard R. Engler, Cretin-Derham Hall makes major building renovations and additions which enhance the student experience in academics, theater, choir, band, athletics, and faith. Enrollment soars with an enhanced curriculum as students fill the Woulfe Activity Center and Lillian Theater.

2002 - The Joe Mauer Fieldhouse, Daulton Fitness Center, and John and Sue Morrison Fine Arts Center is completed providing even more opportunities for students in the arts and athletics. School leadership ensured that equal square footage was added for athletics and the arts.

2015 - After 25 years of leadership, Richard R. Engler retires and Frank M. Miley, J.D. succeeds him as President. Cretin-Derham Hall brings focus to the school's founders, upgrades infrastructure throughout the campus including security, HVAC systems, and enhances learning technology with students 1-1 iPad program.

2019 - The Lentsch Forum opens creating a new “living room” for students. Students enjoy using the space to study, hangout with friends, wait for rides, being warmed by the fireplace, while the space is also used for performing arts, fine art shows, and alumni celebrations.

2023 - The Ryan STEM Center debuts enhancing the student experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 3-D printing, Computer Aided Design, Digital Filmmaking, Laser Engraving, and CNC Routing become a part of the everyday vernacular of CDH. 

2023:   President Miley retires from Catholic education and Teri McCloughan, a former Board Chair, is named Interim President of CDH while supporting the search for a new President.  

2024:  Jeb Myers is named President of CDH after serving the Cristo Rey school network both locally and nationally having held previous roles as a teacher, principal and president.