History -- Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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Historical Content

Featured Publication

Civil Works for the Public Good is the first volume in The History of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Series, and it focuses on the Corps' civil works during the Great Depression. It chronicles the participation of this agency and its personnel in the federal response to the economic crisis of the 1930s in the form of a nationwide public works relief program. It is illustrated with vintage photographs, most of which are available through the USACE Digital Library. The history reveals the remarkable ability of this organization to respond to diverse challenges and to adapt to new circumstances.

Mission of the Office of History

The mission of the Office of History is to collect, document, interpret, disseminate, and preserve the history and heritage of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The office accomplishes its mission through research and writing, a field history program, an oral history program, an extensive research collection, and a historic artifact collection.

Other Resources

The HQ/HECSA Library has compiled a library guide with several other resources on USACE history.

Commemoration

When President Jimmy Carter assumed office, he maintained a list of water resources projects to terminate. But after working with Congress and USACE leaders, his administration’s efforts helped accelerate a transformation in water resources development, promoting more environmentally and fiscally responsible construction. Carter's administration championed innovative approaches to floodplain management, dam safety, and ecosystem restoration. His commitment to nonstructural flood risk management and wetland restoration, along with the establishment of the Superfund for hazardous waste cleanup, marked pivotal moments in environmental protection. Carter's visionary policies continue to shape our approach to water and environmental stewardship. Read about President Jimmy Carter's Water Resources Legacy.

USACE History Preserved

A large photograph collection at Pittsburgh District preserves and illustrates decades of USACE history and dedication to water resources improvements in the region.

Troy Lock and Dam and Preserved Historical Resources. Read a brief history of the dam project and the historical materials—photos, negatives, tools, and more—preserved by the USACE staff in Troy for more than 100 years.

Featured Photos - Omaha District MILCON at Offutt AFB OClub

Room with round tables and chairs with hanging lamps. — Card Room. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Reclining chairs on a tiled floor with a TV in a wooden cabinet. — Game Room. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Large empty room with curved stone half-wall and stairs in background. — Dance floor and orchestra dais. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Large room with chairs surrounding small tables — Lounge. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Large empty room with band stand along back wall. — Dining room. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Large empty curved room with modern fireplace and hanging lights. — Game room fireplace. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Empty room with geometric floor pattern and large wooden circles on the wall. — Card room with service bar. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Lounge chairs next to a curved bar with decorative art on back wall. — Bar area. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Woman in a dress on the telephone near a chaise lounge and drapes. — Powder room. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Large curved room with booths, wall slats, and greenery. — Bar seating. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Distant view of large room with lounge chairs and sofas and starburst light fixtures. — Lounge area. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Large room with oval-shaped bar, stools, and lounge chairs. — Main bar. Offutt AFB officers club addition 1957

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Current Exhibit

Remembering the Great War. See the on-line version of an exhibit on the history of Army Engineer involvement
in The War to End All Wars, World War I, 1917-1918.

Collection in Focus

Serving in Iran during World War II — work, rest, and notable visitors.
Browse Persian Gulf Command Photo Albums to view scenes of Iran and elsewhere in the 1940s

Wilmington District History

This update to the history of the Wilmington District covers the 40 years between 1983 and 2023. This book takes a look at how the district has continued to deliver engineering solutions to secure the nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risk. It also focuses on the development of environmental programs and the return of significant military construction to the district’s responsibilities in the early 2000s.

Hurricane Maria Response

Following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, USACE responded. And although the Corps assisted with recovery efforts in several ways, this new book focuses on the story of the historic response to the electrical problems caused by the storm in Puerto Rico. It describes the enormous challenges and how the talented and passionate people of the Corps always step up to engineer solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges, especially in times of crisis. The innovation, hard work, and expertise of dedicated U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel was instrumental in turning the lights back on in Puerto Rico.

Huntington District History

One of the latest field histories to be published is that of the Huntington District in West Virginia. The book recounts the history of the district from 1974 to 2021 and its work on waterway development, military construction, and emergency management in the Ohio River valley and elsewhere

Destruction Imminent

Destruction Imminent is the second of a three-volume history series on the USACE emergency operations mission. This volume begins with the Federal Disaster Relief Act of 1950, which created a permanent and continuous mechanism for federal disaster response, and continues through the establishment of FEMA in April 1979 and the centralization of the nation’s emergency functions. It also chronicles USACE responses to natural and manmade disasters during this period.

Los Angeles District History

Book cover of the history of the Los Angeles District

Another recently published field history is that of the Los Angeles District. The book focuses on the latest fifty years of history of the district, from 1966 to 2016, and its evolution during that time frame. It touches on the work undertaken by the district in the fields of civil works, military construction, emergency response, global deployment, and other mission areas.

Oral History Guides

The Oral History Guide (in standard and short versions) is a guide to the theory and practice of oral history that provides USACE employees who are planning an oral history program with some historical background and practical advice. Available on-line as PDF or eBook versions. To request print copies, use the Contact Us feature at the bottom of the webpage and choose History as the recipient.

7 February 2025