Established by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1936, Patuxent Research Refuge was the nation's first wildlife experiment station. Its original 2,670 acres, which included the Visitor Center site, were expanded to 12,750 acres. The refuge's primary goal is to support research that helps conserve the nation's wildlife and natural environment. Its secondary goal is to manage the land for native and migratory species, and public activities that do not conflict with these two goals are allowed in designated areas.
