Birthplace of Environmental Research in America

Founding of the Lawrence Experiment Station in 1887

 In 1886, the Massachusetts Legislature passed the Inland Waters Act, which called for a broad program to protect the state's rivers, streams and ponds. In the following year (1887), as part of the implementation of the Act, the Massachusetts State Board of Health founded the Lawrence Experiment Station under the direction of Hiram Francis Mills. At that time, the principal mission of the Station was to develop practical methods for treating the growing volumes of wastewater produced by Massachusetts cities and towns, which were beginning to seriously degrade surface waters in the state.

Original Buildings
The original Lawrence Experiment Station, as situated near North Canal Street on the bank of the Merrimack River. These are the original buildings shown after the flood of April 7, 1901.

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