Old Lincoln School, also known as Old Central, was built in 1864 on the site of the Cedar Valley Agricultural Fairgrounds. It was completed in 1866, at a cost of $23,000. Since it was the only public school in Cedar Falls for a time, the schoolhouse served children from primary grades to high school.

In 1904, it formally took on the name “Lincoln.” By 1924, the decision had been made to raze the building, when the current Lincoln School was built across the street.