Catalyzes the sequential NAD-dependent oxidations of L-histidinol to L-histidinaldehyde and then to L-histidine. H2O + L-histidinol + 2 NAD(+) = 3 H(+) + L-histidine + 2 NADH Binds 1 zinc ion per subunit. At high pH manganese can replace zinc. Activity is lost when the metal is removed through urea denaturation or chelation, and can be regained by addition of metal. Amino-acid biosynthesis; L-histidine biosynthesis; L-histidine from 5-phospho-alpha-D-ribose 1-diphosphate: step 9/9. Homodimer. Belongs to the histidinol dehydrogenase family. PubMed:3533140 originally reported Cys-117 to be the active site. PubMed:8314784 has shown this to be wrong.