Bohler Gymnasium History

This 1927 building was originally known simply as the Gymnasium until October 12, 1946, when it was renamed after J. Fred (Doc) Bohler. Bohler was a nationally-known WSU coach and director of athletics who devoted 42 years to physical education and sports at WSU. Bohler Gym has played a significant role in the history of Cougar sports. Housing a basketball court, swimming pool, handball courts and office, it still has an important role in WSU athletics.

The architect, Stanley Smith, was the second University architect and completed fourteen major buildings at WSU including Bohler, Hollingbery Fieldhouse and Smith Gym. Bohler was the first of the three athletics buildings he built on the north side of the campus. With Bohler, Hollingbery Fieldhouse and Smith Gym, he gave a strong definition to the edge of the campus core.

This massive red brick building is ornamented with terra cotta and cut stone. The renaissance revival window surrounds with alternating plain and broken pediments are surprisingly opulent. The original entrance with sculptural decoration faced west.

Today, Bohler Gym houses WSU Athletics; WSU athletes practice, work out, and compete in sporting events within its walls.

Read more about Bohler Gym then and now in Tools for Training and more about the Gym at the WSU Athletics website[1].

<gallery> image: JBohler1938.jpg|J. (Fred) Bohler pictured in 1938. Photo courtesy WSU Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections. image: BohlerSketch1928.jpg|Sketch of Bohler Gym presented in 1928. Photo courtesy WSU Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections. image: BohlerInteriorStudentStrike1936.jpg|Student strike inside of Bohler Gym in 1936. Photo courtesy WSU Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections. image: Bohler1936.jpg|Bohler Gym pictured in 1936. Photo courtesy WSU Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections.