McKeldin Mall

McKeldin Mall is the heart of UMD.

The Maryland Agricultural College dates back to the 1850s. On land purchased for $20,000, it opened in 1859 with 34 students enrolled.

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act providing federal support for state colleges to teach agriculture, mechanical arts and military tactics. In 1866, MAC became the land-grant college for the state of Maryland.

It became the University of Maryland in 1920.

There are about 40,000 students at UMD in College Park, with ~10,000 staff, including ~3,000 faculty.