Originally constructed in 1905 as an armory, it has been repurposed multiple times over the years; it has served as a barracks, an athletics building, and a recreation ground.

[1] The armory was designed by Minnesotan architects Frank Kinney and Menno Detweiler in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, although it also boasts Grecian-style windows.

Due to its open floor plan, it also became an ideal venue for student organizations to host parties and dances.

In 1918, with World War I drawing to a close, the building shifted back into the secondary role of a campus arsenal and barracks.

All military operations moved into the new building, and the Old Armory became home to the women's gymnasium and physical education program.