A brick building with a clock tower, Old Main is known to be the oldest building on our campus here at Penn West California! Construction of Old Main started in 1868. The building was built with about 800,000 bricks. Each brick is made from clay mined right on campus and another raw material.

This building was designed by Barr & Moser of Pittsburgh and constructed by Powell & Sons of California. The building process of Old Main was supervised by Andrew Jackson Harris, with them working tirelessly over the years to get it built. This building was officially in use with students and classes in 1871 while it was still being built due to them having a first floor fully completed.

Old Main was officially finished in 1876 and served as an office space, classrooms, and the library. Also, it still has a chapel for students to practice their faith. Almost one hundred years later, Old Main entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Then it was named an official landmark in 1977. Now this building serves as the president of the university’s office with students working there.