Department of Horticultural Science

Historical State Timelines
Department of Horticultural Science
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1880s

1889 Department of Horticulture, Arboriculture, and Botany established

The Department of Horticulture, Arboriculture, and Botany was established as one of the five original academic divisions of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.

1890s

circa 1890 Entomology curriculum established

The entomology curriculum was taught within the Department of Horticulture, Arboriculture, and Botany.

1896 Department of Horticulture, Arboriculture, and Botany moved

The Department of Horticulture, Arboriculture, and Botany moved to the newly constructed Primrose Hall.

GreenhouseGreenhouse
1896 Primrose Hall built

Named after William Stuart Primrose, a primary founder of NC State, Primrose Hall was built in 1896 to house the Department of Horticulture.

Primrose Hall, built in 1896. The greenhouses were used by horticulture, botany, and arboriculture departments. Tompkins in rearPrimrose Hall, built in 1896. The greenhouses were used by horticulture, botany, and arboriculture departments. Tompkins in rear

1900s

1905 Department of Horticulture moved

The Department of Horticulture, Arboriculture, and Botany moved to Patterson Hall, originally known as Agricultural Hall.

1905 Patterson Hall opened

Patterson Hall, originally called Agricultural Hall, was named for Samuel Ledgerwood Patterson. This building housed the Department of Horticulture, Aboriculture, and Botany.

Patterson HallPatterson Hall

1920s

1922 Ricks Hall opened

Ricks Hall, built by Thomas Wright Cooper and G. Murray Nelson, opened to house the Agricultural Extension Service, agricultural economics and business, agricultural information, and horticulture departments. It was named for Robert Henry Ricks.

Ricks HallRicks Hall
1927 First landscape architecture courses offered

Professor Joseph Plummer Pillsbury initiated developing a curriculum in landscape architecture, which was was established as a component of courses in the Department of Horticulture.

1940s

1940 Food science curriculum established

Food science curriculum was scattered throughout several departments, including animal industry, horticulture, and poultry science.

1942 Division of Landscape Architecture established

The Division of Landscape Architecture was established in the Department of Horticulture.

1950s

12/18/1953 Kilgore Hall dedicated

The new building housing the School of Forestry and the Department of Horticulture was formally dedicated as Kilgore Hall. The building was named in honor of the late Dr. Benjamin Wesley Kilgore. He was the former Dean of Agriculture, Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the first head of North Carolina's Agricultural Extension Service.

Entrance to Department of Forestry, Kilgore Hall, North Carolina State CollegeEntrance to Department of Forestry, Kilgore Hall, North Carolina State College
1956 Department of Horticulture moved

The Department of Horticulture moved to Kilgore Hall.

Kilgore HallKilgore Hall

1960s

1962 Department of Horticulture renamed

The Department of Horticulture was renamed the Department of Horticultural Science. More historical information exists on the department's website.

Horticultural Science class in greenhouseHorticultural Science class in greenhouse

1970s

4/9/1973 M.E. Gardner Arboretum dedicated

The Gardner Arboretum was located on a one-acre tract between Patterson Hall and Burlington Laboratories. It was named for M.E. Gardner, former head of the Department of Horticulture.

M. E. Gardner Arboretum with Burlington Engineering Laboratories in backgroundM. E. Gardner Arboretum with Burlington Engineering Laboratories in background