The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) celebrates its 250th birthday June 16, marking a legacy of shaping the nation through vital public engineering, environmental stewardship, and disaster response.

Founded on June 16, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized Gen. George Washington to appoint Colonel Richard Gridley the first Chief Engineer, what started as a small group of engineers tasked with fortifying the colonies during the Revolutionary War has grown through the centuries to become the world’s largest public engineering agency.

Through the 19th century, the USACE mission dramatically expanded. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contributed to the nation’s westward expansion mapping terrain and building critical infrastructure projects like canals, railroads, and harbor improvements. USACE also played a pivotal role in the construction of iconic structures like the Washington Monument, U.S. Capital Building and the Panama Canal.

The USACE established its first permanent engineer office in Vicksburg in 1873; the Mississippi River Commission established its district offices in 1882, with an office in Vicksburg; and the Commission moved its headquarters to Vicksburg in 1929 and established the Waterways Experiment Station (known today as ERDC) that same year, under the leadership of the President of the Mississippi River Commission; also in 1929, the Mississippi Valley Division established its Headquarters in Vicksburg, from which location the Mississippi Valley Division manages six corps of engineers districts that include the entire Mississippi River valley, from Canada to the Gulf of America, including the water from 41 percent of the United States and all the commerce and natural riches of America’s vast interior, all of which pass along America’s Center Coast, the Great Mississippi River, on their way to markets across the globe.

These three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offices in Vicksburg together employ more than 2,450 people directly, in addition to thousands of contractors who construct Corps of Engineers projects, and thousands of indirect jobs that are created due to the influx of Corps of Engineers spending in the State of Mississippi, as well as industrial development along the river made possible by the flood protection and navigation benefits provided by the Mississippi River and Tributaries project.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, USACE continued to evolve, managing the nation’s civil works, supporting military installations, providing outdoor recreational areas and leading disaster response efforts following devastating events like Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, and numerous floods and wildfires. Today, USACE manages a vast portfolio including over 900 dams, 75 locks and dams, 400 lakes, and thousands of miles of navigation channels.

Key Historical Facts:

• 1775: USACE established as the Continental Army Corps of Engineers.
• 1802: USACE formally established as a permanent branch of the U.S. Army.
• 1824: Begins work on improving the nation’s harbors and rivers, fostering commerce.
• 1879: Assumes responsibility for flood control along the Mississippi River.
• 1917-1920: Plays a key role in constructing vital infrastructure during World War I.
• 1930s: Massive dam building program during the Great Depression, creating jobs and providing water resources.
• Present: Continues to lead in civil works, military construction, and disaster response, focusing on sustainability and resilience.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the world’s largest public engineering, design, and construction agency. USACE delivers vital civil and military programs, strengthening national security, sustaining water resources infrastructure, and driving economic growth. Learn more at https://www.usace.army.mil/.