Louisa in Louisa County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Hugh Hammond Bennett (1881-1960)

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, April 6, 2012

1. Hugh Hammond Bennett (1881-1960) Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Hugh Hammond Bennett, “the father of soil conservation,” joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils in 1903. While conducting a soil survey of Louisa County in 1905, he came to understand the link between soil erosion and soil quality. Inspired by this insight, Bennett campaigned nationally for soil conservation. Congress created a permanent Soil Conservation Service within the USDA in 1935; Bennett was its first chief. It was renamed the Natural Resources Conservation Service in 1994. Where others had failed, Bennett brought soil erosion into the public consciousness and made soil conservation a national priority.

Erected 2010 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number W-224.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Environment • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.

Location. 38° 1.493′ N, 77° 59.84′ W. Marker is in Louisa, Virginia

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, in Louisa County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Fredericksburg Avenue (Virginia Route 628) and School Street (Virginia Route T-1014), on the left when traveling north. Located on the grounds of the Louisa County Historical Society and the Louisa Arts Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 214 Fredericksburg Ave, Louisa VA 23093, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Louisa Rail Road track--1837 (within shouting distance of this marker); Trevilians Schoolhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Michie House (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Louisa (approx. ¼ mile away); John Mercer Langston Birthplace (approx. 0.3 miles away); In Memory of All Veterans (approx. 0.3 miles away); Louisa Court House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Patrick Henry's Home (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisa.

Also see . . .
1. Hugh Hammond Bennett. Wikipedia (Submitted on April 8, 2012.)

2. Hugh Hammond Bennett and the Creation of the Soil Erosion Service (pdf file). by Douglas Helms, National Historian, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA (Submitted on April 8, 2012.)

Louisa Arts Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, April 6, 2012

2. Louisa Arts Center

Hugh Hammond Bennett (right), first Chief of the Soil Conservation Service image. Click for full size.

3. Hugh Hammond Bennett (right), first Chief of the Soil Conservation Service

Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS [NRCSDC01013]

Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,097 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 8, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.