Comstock Memorial Union

History of the CMU

The Comstock Memorial Union opened its doors to the Minnesota State University Moorhead community on April 24, 1967. The building was dedicated on February 14, 1968 and named after the Comstock family of Moorhead. The family's founder, Solomon G. Comstock, is considered the "Father" of Moorhead State Normal School (now Minnesota State University Moorhead) because of his 1885 success in persuading the Minnesota State Legislature to build the state's fourth "normal school" in Moorhead. Comstock even donated the six acres upon which the university was founded. Comstock's son, George M. Comstock, was an MSUM Resident Director from 1943-1951.

From the CMU's very beginning, students were instrumental in creating a Union for Minnesota State University Moorhead. MSU Moorhead students in the mid 1950's began making concerted fund-raising efforts to build a space that could serve as the "living room" of the campus. In 1961, MSUM students began paying a $5 fee per academic quarter for the student union, however construction on the CMU did not start until April of 1966. In other words, even though the CMU would not be built by the time many of the students voting for a fee increase had graduated, students thought having a union was important enough for future generations of Minnesota State University Moorhead students and decided to help fund the CMU. The CMU's doors opened on April 24^th, 1967 and celebrated its 30-year anniversary of serving the MSUM community in 1997.

The Main Lounge

Ballroom - looking Northwest

Main Lounge - looking Northwest