DCR 100th Anniversary Milestones

1920s

1926 — Agency Established

State Commission on Conservation & Development created, assuming duties of the Water Power and Development Commission, State Geological Commission, State Geological Survey, State Geologist, and State Forester.

“The State Commission on Conservation and Development of Virginia is expressly charged by law with the duty of studying and developing the State's natural resources…”

Director: William E. Carson (1926–1934)

1927

Division of History & Archaeology begins state highway marker program, writing and installing markers.

1930s

1933

Commission includes divisions for geology, water resources, forestry, history & archaeology, and advertising & publicity.
Commission authorized to extend the state park system.
Caverns of Virginia published under State Geologist Arthur Bevan.
First six state parks acquired: Douthat, Fairy Stone, Hungry Mother, Seashore/First Landing, Staunton River, Westmoreland.

1935

Commission reorganized; now requires a full‑time paid chairman and a five‑member board.
Director: Wilbur C. Hall (1935–1939)

1936

Virginia State Parks officially established; first six parks open.

1938

Agency renamed Virginia Conservation Commission.

1939

“Virginia Room” exhibit at the 1939 World’s Fair, visited by over one million people.
Director: N. Clarence Smith (1939–1942)
Additional state parks established: Bear Creek Lake, Holliday Lake, Twin Lakes.

1940s

1942

Division of History & Archaeology begins war records collection through local correspondents.
Director: William A. Wright (1942–1952)

1943–1948

1943: Southwest Virginia Museum State Park established.
1946: Pocahontas State Park established.
1948: Agency renamed Department of Conservation and Development.
1948: State Planning Board abolished; duties transferred to Division of Planning & Economic Development.

1950s

1952–1954

Director: Sidney S. Kellam (1952–1954)

1954–1960

Director: Raymond V. Long (1954–1960)
1954: Breaks Interstate Park (VA portion) established.
1955: Staunton River Battlefield State Park established.

1958

Agency renamed Department of Conservation and Economic Development (DCED).

1960s

1960

Natural Areas System created to preserve representative Virginia landforms.
Director: Marvin Sutherland (1960–1978)

1965–1966

1965: First Virginia Outdoors Plan published.
1966: First Land & Water Conservation Fund grants awarded.
1966: Open‑Space Land Act enacted.

1965–1969 State Parks

Grayson Highlands, Smith Mountain Lake, Natural Tunnel, Mason Neck, Chippokes, False Cape, Occoneechee, York River state parks aquired.

1970s

1970

Virginia voters ratify Article XI (Conservation) of the Virginia Constitution.
Virginia Scenic Rivers Act enacted.

1972–1979

1972: Lake Anna State Park established.
1974: Caledon State Park established.
1975: Sky Meadows and Leesylvania State Parks established.
1977: Flood Damage Reduction Act enacted.
1978: Director: Fred W. Walker (1978–1982)
1979: Cave Protection Act enacted.

1980s

1982

Virginia Dam Safety Act enacted.
Director: B.C. Leynes Jr. (1982–1990)

1984

Agency becomes Department of Conservation and Historic Resources (DCHR).
Economic development and tourism programs removed.
Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost Share Program established.

1986–1989

1986: Natural Heritage Program created.
1987: Floodplain Management Program created.
1988: Virginia Conservation Easement Act enacted.
1989: DCHR becomes Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR).
1989: Natural Area Preserve System established.
1989: Dam Safety, Flood Prevention & Protection Assistance Fund created.

1990s

1990–1994

Director: J. Robert “Bob” Hicks Jr. (1990–1994)
1990: First Natural Area Preserve dedicated — North Landing River.
1991: First Floodplain Management Plan published.
1992: $95M Parks & Recreational Facilities Act bond referendum passes.
1990–1992: North Landing River, Bethel Beach, Big Spring, Johnsons Creek, Poor Mountain, Wreck Island, Bush Mill Stream, Pinnacle Natural Area Preserves acquired.
1993–1994: Belle Isle, James River, Wilderness Road, Shenandoah River State Parks acquired.

1994–1998

Director: Kirby Burch (1994–1996)
Director: Kathleen Lawrence (1996–1998)
1994–1997: Hughlett Point, Pickett’s Harbor, Northwest River, Grafton Ponds, Blackwater Ecological, Chub Sandhill, Antioch Pines, Buffalo Mountain, Cumberland Marsh, New Point Comfort, Cape Charles, The Cedars, Cowbane Prairie Natural Area Preserves acquired.

1998–2002

Director: David Brickley (1998–2002)
1999: Virginia Land Conservation Foundation established.
1999: Virginia Land Conservation Incentives Act enacted.
1998–2001: Savage Neck Dunes, Pedlar Hills Glades, Grassy Hill, Folly Mills Creek Fen, Dameron Marsh, Dendron Swamp, Parkers Marsh, Hickory Hollow, Cleveland Barrens, Chotank Creek, Deep Run Ponds, Difficult Creek Natural Area Preserves acquired.

2000s

2002–2010

Director: Joseph “Joe” Maroon (2002–2010)
State parks acquired: Powhatan (2003), Seven Bends (2004), High Bridge Trail (2006), Falling Springs Falls (2007), Mayo River (2009).
2002–2009: Bull Run Mountains, False Cape, Goshen Pass, Grayson Glades, Parramore Island, Elklick Woodlands, Unthanks Cave, Redrock Mountain, Mount Joy Pond, Cherry Orchard Bog, Mutton Hunk Fen, Clover Hollow, Mark’s and Jack’s Islands, Chestnut Ridge, Magothy Bay, Naked Mountain, Chestnut Creek Wetlands, Camp Branch Wetlands, Ogdens Cave, The Channels, Crow’s Nest, Fletcher Ford, South Quay Sandhills, Cypress Bridge Swamp, Sweet Spring, Crawford’s Knob Natural Area Preserves acquired.

2010s

2010–2014

Director: David Johnson (2010–2014)
2010: DCR becomes the first conservation and recreation law enforcement agency in Virginia to earn accreditation.
2013: Resource Management Plan Program authorized.
2010–2012: Mill Creek Springs, Blackwater Sandhills Natural Area Preserves acquired.

2014–2022

Director: Clyde Cristman (2014–2022)
2016–2019: Natural Bridge, Sweet Run, Widewater, Clinch River State Parks acquired.
2015–2021: Dundas Granite Flatrock, Bald Knob, Cave Hill, Lyndhurst Ponds, Piney Grove Flatwoods Natural Area Preserves acquired.

2020s

2022–2025

Director: Matthew Wells (2022–2025)
2020: Community Flood Preparedness Fund established.
2021: ConserveVirginia codified into law.
2022: Resilient Virginia Revolving Loan Fund created.
2022: Falkland State Conservation Area added.
2023: Hayfields State Park established.
2023: Southside Savannah Natural Area Preserve dedicated.
2024: Culpeper Battlefields State Park established.
2025: Eastern Divide and Brocks Gap Natural Area Preserves acquired.
2025: 44th Virginia State Park opens at Hayfields.

2026–present

Director: Nikki Rovner (2026–present)