HISTORYHISTORY

of the Department of Interiorof the Department of Interior

The BeginningThe Beginning March 3, 1849:March 3, 1849: the last day of the 30th Congress, a bill the last day of the 30th Congress, a bill

was passed to create the Department of the Interior to was passed to create the Department of the Interior to take charge of the Nation's internal affairs. take charge of the Nation's internal affairs.

1849:1849: Creation of the Home Department consolidating Creation of the Home Department consolidating the General Land Office (Department of the Treasury), the General Land Office (Department of the Treasury), the Patent Office (Department of State), the Indian the Patent Office (Department of State), the Indian Affairs Office (War Department) and the military Affairs Office (War Department) and the military pension offices (War and Navy Departments). pension offices (War and Navy Departments). Subsequently, Interior functions expand to include the Subsequently, Interior functions expand to include the census, regulation of territorial governments, census, regulation of territorial governments, exploration of the western wilderness, and exploration of the western wilderness, and management of the D.C. jail and water system. management of the D.C. jail and water system.

The 1850’s and 1860’sThe 1850’s and 1860’s 1850-18571850-1857 Interior's Mexican Boundary Commission Interior's Mexican Boundary Commission

establishes the international boundary with Mexico. establishes the international boundary with Mexico. 1856-18731856-1873 Interior's Pacific Wagon Road Office Interior's Pacific Wagon Road Office

improved the historic western emigrant routes. improved the historic western emigrant routes. 18691869 Interior began its geological survey of the western Interior began its geological survey of the western

Territories with the Hayden expedition. The Bureau of Territories with the Hayden expedition. The Bureau of Education is placed under Interior (later transferred to Education is placed under Interior (later transferred to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare). the Department of Health, Education and Welfare).

The End of the 19The End of the 19thth CenturyCentury 18721872 Congress establishes Yellowstone as the Congress establishes Yellowstone as the

first National Park. first National Park. 18731873 Congress transferred territorial oversight Congress transferred territorial oversight

from the Secretary of State to the Secretary of from the Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Interior. the Interior.

18791879 Creation of the U.S. Geological Survey. Creation of the U.S. Geological Survey. 18841884 Interior's Bureau of Labor is established Interior's Bureau of Labor is established

(becomes the Department of Labor in 1888). (becomes the Department of Labor in 1888). 1887-18891887-1889 The Interstate Commerce The Interstate Commerce

Commission is established in Interior. The Dawes Commission is established in Interior. The Dawes Act authorizes allotments to Indians. Act authorizes allotments to Indians.

The Start of the 20The Start of the 20thth CenturyCentury

19021902 The Bureau of The Bureau of Reclamation is established to Reclamation is established to construct dams and construct dams and aqueducts in the west. aqueducts in the west.

19031903 President Theodore President Theodore Roosevelt establishes the first Roosevelt establishes the first National Wildlife Refuge at National Wildlife Refuge at Pelican Island, Florida. The Pelican Island, Florida. The Census Bureau is transferred Census Bureau is transferred to the Department of to the Department of Commerce.Commerce.

President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir on Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley, California.

The 1910’s and 1920’sThe 1910’s and 1920’s 19101910 The Bureau of Mines is created to The Bureau of Mines is created to

promote mine safety and minerals technology. promote mine safety and minerals technology. 19161916 President Wilson signed legislation President Wilson signed legislation

creating The National Park Service. creating The National Park Service. 19201920 The Mineral Leasing Act establishes the The Mineral Leasing Act establishes the

government's right to rental payments and government's right to rental payments and royalties on oil, gas, and minerals production. royalties on oil, gas, and minerals production.

19251925 The Patent Office is transferred to the The Patent Office is transferred to the Department of Commerce. Department of Commerce.

The 1930’sThe 1930’s 19301930 The Bureau of Pensions is transferred to the The Bureau of Pensions is transferred to the

Veterans Administration. Veterans Administration. 19341934 The Taylor Grazing Act is enacted to regulate The Taylor Grazing Act is enacted to regulate

economic uses of public lands. The first Migratory Bird economic uses of public lands. The first Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp is issued. The Indian Reorganization Act Hunting Stamp is issued. The Indian Reorganization Act abolishes the allotment system established in 1887, abolishes the allotment system established in 1887, forms tribal governments, and affirms the Secretary's forms tribal governments, and affirms the Secretary's trust responsibilities. Oversight of Alaska, Hawaii, the trust responsibilities. Oversight of Alaska, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico is transferred to Interior. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico is transferred to Interior.

19351935 The Bureau of Reclamation completes The Bureau of Reclamation completes construction of Hoover Dam. construction of Hoover Dam.

The 1940’s through the The 1940’s through the 1970’s1970’s

19401940 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is created The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is created from the Bureau of Fisheries and the Bureau of from the Bureau of Fisheries and the Bureau of Biological Survey. Biological Survey.

19461946 Interior's General Land Office and Grazing Interior's General Land Office and Grazing Service are merged into the Bureau of Land Service are merged into the Bureau of Land Management. Management.

1950-19511950-1951 Interior assumes jurisdiction over Guam, Interior assumes jurisdiction over Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Islands.

19771977 The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is established to oversee state regulation Enforcement is established to oversee state regulation of strip coal mining and repair of environmental of strip coal mining and repair of environmental damage. damage.

The Recent HistoryThe Recent History 19801980 The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act

is enacted adding 47 million acres to the National Park is enacted adding 47 million acres to the National Park System and 54 acres to the National Wildlife Refuge System and 54 acres to the National Wildlife Refuge System. System.

19821982 The Minerals Management Service is established to The Minerals Management Service is established to facilitate mineral revenue collection and manage the Outer facilitate mineral revenue collection and manage the Outer Continental Shelf offshore lands. Continental Shelf offshore lands.

19931993 The President convened the Northwest Forest Plan The President convened the Northwest Forest Plan Summit and released the "Forest Plan for a Sustainable Summit and released the "Forest Plan for a Sustainable Economy and Sustainable Environment." Economy and Sustainable Environment."

19961996 Interior science and technology functions are Interior science and technology functions are consolidated in the U.S. Geological Survey. consolidated in the U.S. Geological Survey.

20012001 Gale A. Norton is nominated the first woman to serve Gale A. Norton is nominated the first woman to serve as Secretary of the Interior. as Secretary of the Interior.