University of Idaho historic district nomination advances toward National Register

MOSCOW, Idaho — Most of University of Idaho’s Moscow campus is one step closer to being listed on the National Register of Historic Places after the Idaho Historic Sites Review Board unanimously voted to advance the university’s historic district nomination to the National Park Service (NPS). 

If approved by NPS, the designation would recognize much of the university’s historic campus as the University of Idaho Historic District, honoring more than a century of architecture, landscape design and educational history.

“This nomination recognizes the unique character of our campus and the generations of people who have helped shape it,” U of I President Scott Green said. “The University of Idaho's residential campus is one of the defining features of the student experience, and this designation would help preserve and celebrate that legacy.”

The nomination encompasses dozens of historic buildings, structures and landscape features across the Moscow campus. Several campus buildings are already individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Administration Building, Ridenbaugh Hall and Memorial Gym.

“Many people recognize the Admin Building or the campus landscape, but few realize how significant these places are in Idaho’s history,” said Dulce Kersting-Lark, head of U of I’s Special Collections and Archives. “The nomination reflects years of research and highlights the people, places and traditions that have shaped University of Idaho since its founding.” 

The nomination was authored primarily by Nathan J. Moody, who earned a master’s degree in history from U of I in 2025. Moody completed much of the work as part of his graduate studies.

“Working on the district survey and nomination provided practical experience in built-environment evaluation on a scale rarely available to students, even those at universities with dedicated historic preservation programs,” Moody said. “It involved coordination among multiple departments at U of I, collaboration with scholars from all corners of the state, and engagement with preservation professionals across the nation. Researching immersively allowed me to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the breadth of U of I’s importance to Idaho’s history, while deepening my appreciation for the social, educational and architectural history reflected in the institution’s unique and beautiful campus.”

Kersting-Lark and Rebecca Scofield, professor of history, served as mentors and project supervisors. Students and employees contributed several hundred hours of research, documentation and fieldwork to the effort. 

According to project organizers, the nomination was completed for less than $20,000 through a combination of internal grants, college support and private donations. Similar university historic district nominations elsewhere have cost substantially more. 

The project began in 2022 and was timed in part to coincide with the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Organizers also saw the effort as a way to recognize the distinctive character of U of I’s residential campus and the generations of people who have maintained and developed it.

The nomination received extensive review from preservation specialists with the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office. What began as a proposal centered on the Administration Lawn area eventually expanded into a much larger district encompassing much of the university’s academic buildings, residence spaces and farm facilities on the west edge of campus.

National Register listing does not place significant restrictions on the use, maintenance or operation of university buildings. Instead, the designation recognizes the historic significance of a property and can help guide preservation efforts by drawing attention to the value of preservation.

The nomination will undergo final revisions before being submitted to the National Park Service for review. University officials expect a final decision later this year.

Media contact

Dulce Kersting-Lark
Head, Special Collections and Archives
U of I Libraries
208-885-1309
dulce@uidaho.edu