Historical Buildings- Military Science and Tactics

History

In order to strengthen the military program at the college, which is integral to the institution as a land grant college, the college built the Military Science building. It also allowed the college to free up a lot of space in Old Main and other buildings on the campus. 

The new building was to house all the staff and equipment for the Military Science and Tactics department. The building contains class rooms, small arms and clothing storage, rifle range, fire proof storage for artillery and anti-aircraft equipment along with new expensive equipment the war department placed at the college. Its location directly east of the newly constructed fieldhouse, with an adjoining corridor, allowed the department to have field practices year round. It was one of the most complete, well equipped facilities of its kind in the West.

The building is two stories tall constructed of brick and concrete and was built at a cost of nearly $49,000. The style and brick for the building was made to match the fieldhouse.

Between 1946 and 1948 a remodel and addition was made to the building. The interior was altered to facilitate the growing ROTC units that used the buildings. The program grew from 4 instructors and 500 cadets in 1940 to 28 instructors and 1200 cadets in 1948. The alterations accommodated this growth as well as an increase in the equipment stored in the building. A small corrugated iron war surplus building was also constructed between the Military Science building and the fieldhouse. The equipment stored at the building increased over ten times in value.