Old Main, Pembroke State University
Why it's listed
Old Main is a two-story brick building on the Pembroke State University campus in Robeson County, North Carolina. Completed in 1923 for $50,000 with a state appropriation, it is nine bays wide and twenty-three bays deep, with a tetrastyle wooden Doric portico on its south front. Inside, a 600-seat auditorium once sat between classrooms lit by skylights and bands of windows. The building is the oldest surviving structure at a school founded in 1887 as Croatan Normal School for Robeson County Indians. From 1940 to 1954 the school was the only four-year, degree-granting college in the nation exclusively for Indians, and the Lumbee community regards the building as a symbol of that distinction. A 1973 fire destroyed most of the interior and part of the portico pediment. Stabilization was under way, and plans called for restoring the exterior and creating Indian studies classrooms, a museum and a cultural center.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest remaining building on the campus of a school established in 1887 for Robeson County Indians (Lumbees). The school was the nation's only four-year, degree-granting institution exclusively for Indians from 1940 to 1954. The building is revered by the Lumbee as a symbol of that distinction.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76001335, listed May 13, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of jct. of NC 711 and SR 1340, Pembroke |
|---|---|
| County | Robeson County |
| Listed | May 13, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001335 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1923, 1940-1954 |
| Architectural style | Typical 1920s secondary school design in North Carolina; Classical Revival (Neo-Classical Revival elements) |
| Areas of significance | Native American, Education, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 1973 fire destroyed most of the interior. The structure was being stabilized, with exterior restoration and new interior facilities planned for Indian studies classrooms, a museum and a cultural center. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 34.68516, -79.20171 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76001335.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q113641944
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.