Old Main

Old Main has become an iconic building for the small liberal arts institution of Concordia College. In 2021, the building houses Concordia’s History, Political Science, Education, and Social Work departments. Old Main has been renovated several times during its long history to make it into its current form. It has a complicated origin story, making it one of the most fascinating buildings on Concordia’s campus.     

The building was first considered for construction in 1904, under President Rasmus Bogstad. He knew that Concordia needed room to grow, to become a larger institution in the Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota area. Construction was approved by the school’s governing association given expenses not to exceed $25,000. However, Bogstad did not think that $25,000 would be sufficient to meet the increasing needs of the growing institution. He instead solicited funds for a budget of $50,000, which he thought would suffice. Ultimately Bogstad received a grant of $12,500 from Andrew Carnegie as well as a donation for one-fifth of the total cost from the Moorhead Commercial Club. At the time of construction “New Main” was considered enormous in size and stature, leaving some students and faculty to question if the size was necessary. However, Bogstad was correct in the bid for the larger building. Once the building was constructed in 1907, the college was met with total enrollment of more than 500 students for the first time in its history. According to a college history, New Main “contained classrooms for 500, a library, a gymnasium, an auditorium seating 800 and offices for the president, treasurer and registrar.”[1] For the next forty years, New Main housed most academic and administrative activities on campus. 

Over most of the twentieth century, Old Main had gained the reputation as a staple on Concordia’s Campus. That is why in 1966 when Concordia’s Board of Regents changed the name of the building to Bogstad Hall to recognize the man who fought for its construction, students became outraged. This prompted more than 500 students to protest the name change.[2] The following year, upon a motion by then President Joseph Knutson to the Board, the building was renamed Old Main.

In the 1970s Concordia sought to revitalize parts of Old Main, in order to restore it to its original look. Most notably, in 1974 the windows were replaced, and the brick exterior was renovated. Another significant change to the exterior of the building was in 1994 when the west entrance was changed back into its original 1906 form.[3]

Old Main has been an essential part of Concordia’s campus ever since its construction, as the campus continued to grow and develop around it. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Visitors can view the building’s interior, which includes an exhibit of historic photos on the second floor, when classes are in session.  

[1] Carroll L. Engelhardt, On Firm Foundation Grounded: The first century of Concordia College (1891-1991). Moorhead: Concordia, 1991), 43-55.

[2] North Dakota State University, “Old Main- Concordia Campus - Moorhead Historic Preservation Walking Tour,” PocketSights, https://pocketsights.com/tours/place/Old-Main-Concordia-Campus-6211.

[3] Taylor Houseman, “Old Main West Entry · Cobber History Harvest · Concordia Memory Project” Concordia Archives, http://concordiamemoryproject.concordiacollegearchives.org/exhibits/show/cobber-history-harvest/images/old-main-west-entry.