Morrill Hall

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Geographic Coordinates: 46.728034, -117.010995

Location: Idaho Ave, N. end of Pine Street 820 Idaho Avenue

Building Overview

Date: 1906-. Occupied 1907

Standing: Yes

Name History: Forestry Building

Notes on Naming: Named for Senator Justin S. Morrill of Vermont who introduced a bill later known as the Morrill Act which provided fee land for the founding of land-grant universities in each state.

Architect: Henry Nelson Black

Architectural Style: Classical Revival

Description: Four story brick and stone, 65' x 125', 28,246 sq. ft.

Additions: Fourth floor added in 1930

Use History: Originally constructed for the College of Agriculture and Agricultural Experiment Station. Became Forestry building in 1950. Currently houses the Idaho Geological Survey, Graduate School offices, classrooms, and Dept. of Philosophy.

Cost: $55,907. $55,907 (Insurance money from Administration Building fire)

Sources: Cards, UG 44, Grant Miller, Petersen, Argonaut

History

Morrill Hall was constructed in 1906 and stands as one of the University of Idaho’s oldest surviving buildings. Architect Henry Nelson Black designed the building in the Classical Revival style. Funding came partly from insurance money after the original Administration Building was destroyed by fire. The building, costing $55,907, served as a temporary facility until a new administration building was constructed. The fourth floor was added in 1930. Morrill Hall originally housed the College of Agriculture and later accommodated the School of Mines, the Forestry Department, and currently the College of Graduate Studies. The building was named in honor of Representative Justin Smith Morrill of Vermont, a key advocate for the 1862 Morrill Act, which provided federal lands to fund public universities focused on agriculture and mechanical arts.¹

Design

The building exhibits Classical Revival style elements typical of the early 20th century. Its design reflects academic seriousness and institutional permanence, consistent with land-grant university traditions. The building’s brick-and-stone construction and symmetrical form embody this architectural language.²

Physical Description

Morrill Hall is a four-story structure measuring over 28,000 square feet. The primary materials are brick and stone. The 1930 addition of the fourth floor expanded the original three-story design. The building’s massing and detailing convey its historic purpose and importance within the university campus.³

Notes

Nathan J. Moody, “National Register of Historic Places—Registration Form: The University of Idaho Historic District,” initial submission to Idaho SHPO, unpublished, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, May 7, 2025, 13-15. ↩
Ibid. ↩
Ibid. ↩