List of Old Main buildings

Old Main is a term often applied to the original building present on college or university campuses in the United States. The building often serves as home to administrative offices, such as president or provost. The building also serves as a focal point of the institution and common location to which all alumni relate. Many old main buildings are surmounted by a large tower, cupola, or spire often housing a bell or carillon. Some examples (sorted by U.S. state):

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado

District of Columbia

Old Main (University of Arkansas)

Old Main is the oldest building on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It is one of the most recognizable symbols of the University (especially to alumni and residents of the state of Arkansas), and of higher education in general in Arkansas.

History

Old Main was constructed between 1873 and 1875 as part of a land grant for the state of Arkansas. At this time it was known as University Hall. It was designed by Chicago architect John Mills Van Osdel, and construction was carried out by William Mayes of the firm of Mayes and Oliver. G. N. Wright was one of the contractors. In 1873, the University of Arkansas purchased Van Osdel's plans for the University Hall at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (demolished in 1938) in 1873 and erected an identical structure.

The contract to construct the Hall was signed by the superintendent of public instruction, Joseph Carter Corbin, who was the highest elected African American official in Arkansas during Reconstruction.

Old Main (Minot State University – Bottineau)

Old Main, constructed in 1907-1908, is a historic building at Dakota College at Bottineau (previously named Minot State University-Bottineau), a two-year college in Bottineau, North Dakota. The building previously housed the North Dakota School of Forestry. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

History

In 1889, the North Dakota legislature desired to build a forestry school. Bottineau was chosen as the location in 1894. The state legislative assembly raised $25,000 in 1907, then commissioned architect Joseph Shannon for the building, completed in 1908. The school was constructed in the Romanesque Revival style. The school's campus expanded over the years, but the original building kept its nickname of Old Main.

Current status

A new addition has been constructed at Dakota College at Bottineau (then called Minot State University-Bottineau) and Old Main will be left vacant. People at the college are looking at ways to maintain the building and put it to a new use. It will be left vacant and minimally heated after faculty have moved into the new addition in August 2007. The building is considered endangered by Preservation North Dakota.