U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Northeast Area
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        
                Northeast Area Cities

                    Washington, D.C.
                            Newark, Delaware
                            Boston, Massachusetts
                            Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC)
                            Beltsville, Maryland (BARC)
                            Frederick, Maryland
                            Orono, Maine
                            Geneva, New York
                            Ithaca, New York
                            University Park, Pennsylvania
                            Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania
                            Kearneysville, West Virginia
                            Leetown, West Virginia
                            Burlington, Vermont


                    Civil Rights & EEO Policy StatementsSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Docs BARC Centennial







The History of USDA Slide Show Beltsville Centennial LogoThe history of the US Department of Agriculture can be traced back to 1839 when the Agricultural Division of the Patent Office was established. The mission of this Division was to acquire, propagate, evaluate and distribute seeds and plants, and to collect agricultural statistics and production information. In 1862, the Agricultural Division became the US Department of Agriculture. In 1865, the USDA began its move from the Patent Office building to " Street Map for Reservation No.2 ". The Reservation was located on 35 acres of land between 12th and 14th Streets and the Canal (now Independence Avenue) and B Street (now Constitution Avenue). In 1868, a building, designed by Adolf Cluss, was constructed on the south side of the Reservation. In 1871, a Victorian-style Conservatory, also designed by Adolf Cluss, was constructed just west of the Agricultural Building. As the mission and research program expanded, additional land and facilities in the surrounding Washington, Maryland, and Virginia area were leased. During the late 1930's, all the research facilities in Maryland, Virginia and Washington were co-located at the "National Agricultural Research Center" in Beltsville, MD. *For best results, right click on link and select "save target as." Then select your desktop or other hard drive location.* **Early History**Part 1 Patent Office, U.S. Propagation GardenPart 2 USDA Established, Move out of Patent Office, Conservatory Contructed, Arboretum Americanum,**Plants**Part 1 Expanded Program, Additional Facilities, Add Land Part 2 Wilson Reorganization, Flower ShowsPart 3 ArlingtonPart 4 Cherry Trees, Yarrow, Glen Dale, 1930 Organization. DepressionPart 5 Henry A. Wallace, Beltsville. Experimental Farm Moves, Mall**Animals**Part 1 Bureau of Animal Industry, Benning Rd, Bethesda, Wilson ReorganizationPart 2 Beltsville, Dairy and Animal Husbandry, PoultryPart 3 Henry C. Wallace, 1930 Organization, DepressionPart 4 Henry A. Wallace, Animal Disease moves to Beltsville, CCC, Poultry RoadPart 5 Turkeys, Animal Husbandry and Dairy**Arboretum**Part 1 Introduction, Geometrical Flower BedsPart 2 Annual and Perennial Plants, Trees and Shrubs, ConservatoryPart 3 Museum, GreenhousesPart 4 Flower ShowsPart 5 Tourist Attraction, Move to Anacostia Site PDF files on this page require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader®


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov