North Georgia Agricultural College was established on 6 January 1873, as a land grant school of agriculture and mechanical arts, particularly mining engineering. The building used for the United States Mint in Dahlonega was donated to Georgia for educational purposes.

Its first president was David W. Lewis. The first year registered 177 students, 70 of whom were females. In 1878, Miss Willie Lewis earned her degree, but did not participate in the commencement ceremony due to controversy.

In 1878 a fire destroyed the old mint building, which was later rebuilt on the same foundation and named Price Memorial Building, for WIlliam P. Price of Dahlonega, congressman from Georgia's 6th Dixtrict. When gold mining operations and resources were depleted, the college evolved into Arts and Sciences. In 1916, the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) was established, with 180 officers graduating in 1920, and the school was renamed North Georgia College.

United States Mint Building, Dahlonega, 1877