Hundreds of West Seattle High School Alumni came to the school to see old friends, celebrate the 100th birthday of the WSHS building and to take part in a group hug photo to commemorate the event. The event, like those held for the Admiral Theater, the Alki Homestead, the Fauntleroy School was organized by Clay Eals, Executive Director for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.

King County Executive Dow Constantine spoke briefly at the event recalling the 1980 group hug photo he was part of, holding up a special copy of the school newspaper The Chinook with the photo and joking that this was everyone's chance to "wind up in a drawer in somebody's basement someday."

The West Seattle Big Band, led by Jim Edwards provided entertainment with great vocals for 50's and 60's pop songs provided by Sarah Ackers and Jeff Carter.

The school itself opened in 1902 and was originally called West Seattle School.

A building was later constructed and appropriate to the celebration opened to students in 1917 and then becoming West Seattle High School.

The current building was designed by architect Edgar Blair. Over time the school has been been remodeled and expanded several times. Additions and renovation included the 1924 expansion by School District architect Floyd Naramore, a 1930 annex, a 1954 addition by architects Naramore Bains Brady Johansen, by Theo Damn in 1958, and major interior renovations in 1972. At various times portable classrooms had been installed on the site. The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board designated the building a Landmark in 1981.

In 2000-2002 a major remodel was designed by Bassetti Architects. The design modernized the school while retaining major features of the historic building and doubling the school's size. The expanded space was arranged to provide a new entrance to the school surrounded by a new gymnasium, theater, and Commons spaces. The main entrance was restored, the central auditorium was converted to the Commons, and a gym was converted as the library.