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# History of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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### World's First Wildlife Conservation Agency

From one challenge – to determine why fisheries were declining off our nation’s coasts and inland waters and how to fix it – our history begins. The origins of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began in 1871 with the creation of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries. Since then, the name of our agency has changed multiple times, yet what endures is our dedication to facing conservation challenges through science-based management to restore and safeguard fish, wildlife, and their habitats. 

The National Conservation Training Center is dedicated to the interpretation and display of America's conservation heritage. NCTC is the "home" of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum/Archives maintaining a museum on campus with films, photos, documents, and artifacts chronicling the history of American wildlife conservation.

At many national wildlife refuges, you can also see evocative pieces of America’s past, including fossils, buildings, museum objects, and archaeological remains.  That’s because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conserves cultural and historic resources found on its lands and waters, as mandated by Congress under the National Historic Preservation Act.

### Significant Milestones in our 150-year History

#### 1800s

#### 1900s

#### 1930s

#### 1940s

#### 1950s

#### 1960s

#### 1970s

#### 1980s

#### 1990s

#### 2000s

Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

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