For more information about the history of Utah State University see Pictures Past: A Centennial Celebration of Utah State University by A.J. Simmonds and An Encyclopedic History of Utah State University by Robert Parson, University Archivist.

Utah State University has had four official names: Agricultural College of Utah (1888-1916), Utah Agricultural College (1916-1929), Utah State Agricultural College (1929-1957), and Utah State University (1957- to date).

Buildings on campus were used for a multitude of purposes and often housed several academic departments over the course of the school's history. For continuity's sake, this inventory will use one specific name for each building or place, even though that name has changed over time. The following list indicates each building's most common name and a brief history. These buildings are denoted in the inventory by an asterisk.

Old Main Hill - The rather steep hill on the southwest corner of campus is well known to today's students as Old Main Hill, after the building which crown's its peak. Prior to the main building on campus being nicknamed Old Main, this hill was called College Hill, after the campus itself. For continuity's sake, the hill will be referred to as Old Main Hill.

Merrill Library - The first campus library was actually housed in Old Main, although it moved three times within the building due to departmental accommodations. In 1930, the University Library was built - a three story structure on the east end of the Quad. In 1963 and 1967, two additions were added to the building, completely enclosing the old structure, and the modified building was renamed after Milton R. Merrill, Vice President of Utah State University. In the summer of 2003 construction began for a new Merrill Library to be built adjacent to the east and north sides of the Stanford O. Cazier Science and Technology Library (Sci-Tech Library). The former Merrill Library was torn down in 2006 after the completion of the new Merrill-Cazier Library. To avoid confusion with the 1995 Sci-Tech and Merrill-Cazier Libraries, "Merrill Library" will refer to the original site of the 1930 University Library Building.

President's Residence - Originally meant to be the model farmhouse and the home of the School of Domestic Science, the President's Residence was first claimed in 1890 by President Sanborn, who swapped his planned residence in Old Main with the School of Domestic Science. It remained in use as the official residence of the President until Joseph Marion Tanner (1896), when it was vacated and turned into a dormitory. Currently it is used as the campus Alumni Center. Throughout this inventory, it will be called the "President's Residence" in order to avoid confusion with later dormitories.

Student Union Building - Until the 1950s, campus lacked a formal building for use by the student body. The Family Life Building, with a cafeteria and outdoor eating area, served as a social gathering place for the students. Other structures, such as the TUB (Temporary Union Building), were used from 1946 to 1952 while the Student Union Building was planned and built. On May 2, 1953, the first wing of the building was dedicated and opened for student use, with the second wing being completed nearly ten years later in December of 1964. From the 1950s to the 1970s, the building was referred to as the Union Center. Around 1980, the name of the building was changed to the Taggart Student Center after Glen L. Taggart, 11th President of the University. For continuity's sake, the building will be referred to as the "Student Union Building."

University Annex - Built in 1891, this building served as a co-ed boarding house until 1909. It was later used as the Domestic Science Building from 1909-1935, World War I barracks, Forestry Building from 1935-1960, and as the University Annex and Social Sciences & Arts Building from 1961-1970. It was condemned after the earthquake of August 1962 and demolished in the fall of 1970. Due to its changing use, the title "University Annex" will be used to identify the building throughout the inventory.