The contract to construct the Hall was signed by the superintendent of public instruction, Joseph Carter Corbin,[2] who was the highest elected African American official in Arkansas during Reconstruction.

[7] 136 miles of lumber came by oxen-drawn wagons from the Peter Van Winkle Sawmill near historic War Eagle Mill in Benton County.

[2][4] The red exterior bricks were made from clay dug on campus and fired in kilns built west of Old Main.

[8] Prior to the extensive restoration of 1986–1991, the building was fondly remembered for its large, open, and decorative central stairwell.

The original 19th century Corinthian iron columns, featured prominently in almost all photographs of Old Main's wings, remain in place to this day.

At that time, it received a new roof, aging mortar was replaced, and a clock face[2] was installed in the south tower.

It currently houses the offices of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, its honors program and five academic departments, as well as classrooms and meeting spaces.

[citation needed] The sweeping stairwell leading to the attic of the building found at the center of the top floor is original to the structure.

[citation needed] The walls of the rooms in the central "shotgun" hallway are structural and largely conform to the plan of the original building.

In 2002, a statue of former student, law faculty member, president of the University, congressman,[10] senator, and namesake of the college housed in Old Main, J. William Fulbright, was erected in the rear courtyard of the building.

[citation needed] It plays the Westminster Chimes every hour from 8 am - 8 pm and the alma mater every day at six A.M. and again at five P.M.[9] Senior Walk is a tradition unique to the University of Arkansas.

Although there was no clock face, the building did have a bell[14] in the opposite tower that rang every hour and half-hour and could be heard all over campus, as well as most of downtown Fayetteville and surrounding areas.