The Main Building, later called Old Main, began construction on September 23, 1889, with a cornerstone ceremony. The Main Building was designed in a Victorian Gothic style consisting of two stories by the architect Alfred Mueller. The first story contained classrooms, administrative offices, and SHNI's first library- the Peabody Memorial Library- while the second story contained classrooms and the Memorial Auditorium.

The dedication ceremony for the building was on September 22, 1890. Attendees included SHNI President Joseph Baldwin, Andrew Todd McKinney, the chairman of the SHNI Local Board of Directors, Oscar H. Cooper, the state school superintendent and a member of the first faculty of SHNI, Governor Lawrence S. Ross, and Oran Roberts, the governor when SHNI was chartered in 1879.

In 1966, the Main Building underwent renovations due to cracks in the walls from ivy growing outside and problems with wiring that were said to cause minor fires in the recital hall. In 1970, the Main Building became a Historical Marker.

On Friday, February 12, 1982, the Main Building caught fire and burned to the ground. Authorities were alerted at 1:00 am, but the building could not be saved. The cause of the fire was never found. The fire had spread to Austin Hall, damaging the roof severely. Among the materials lost in the Main fire were academic records, teaching materials, ROTC materials, around $400,000 in broadcasting equipment, and recently bought musical instruments.

In 1983, the 1889 time capsule sealed within the Main Building's cornerstone was opened. The capsule contained campus documents from that time period.

During the memorial dedication ceremony in 1987, a new time capsuled was buried in a granite vault at the center of the refurbished memorial park or The Pit. Inside this capsule are news stories and photographs of the Main Building before and after the fire, a student catalog, and a letter from President Elliot Bowers reflecting on the uniqueness of the building. This time capsule will be open in 2087.

In 2002, President James Gaertner mentioned a proposal for rebuilding the Main Building, but four years later explained the cost for a replica or near replica would be too high.