The Williamson Building was built in 1938 as the National Youth Administration (NYA) headquarters for Arkansas. The NYA was a federal program that enabled Depression-era youth to find work. In 1940 the NYA was phased out and the building was turned over to Tech. The building became the Fine Arts Building.

In October of 1954, Tech named the building after Professor Marvin M. Williamson. Williamson was a member of Arkansas Tech University's first graduating class. Williamson became the music director of Tech in 1913.

The Williamson Building was home to the music department from 1940 to 1972. Army ROTC was housed in the building from 1972 to 1991. There are still slugs in the walls of the dining room when it was used as a shooting gallery for the ROTC.

Williamson is now home to the recreation, park and hospitality administration departments and the Williamson Dining Room.

Information for this story was provided by Instructor Ray Moll