The building previously housed the North Dakota School of Forestry.

The state legislative assembly raised $25,000 in 1907, then commissioned architect Joseph Shannon for the building, completed in 1908.

The school's campus expanded over the years, but the original building kept its nickname of Old Main.

[2] A new addition has been constructed at Dakota College at Bottineau (then called Minot State University–Bottineau) and Old Main will be left vacant.

It will be left vacant and minimally heated after faculty have moved into the new addition in August 2007.