United States Department of Agriculture Whitten Building
Also known as: USDA Also known as: Jamie L. Whitten Building Built: 1903-1930 Designed by: Rankin, Kellogg and Crane Type: Government Building Location: 1400 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington, United States
Description by United States Department of Agriculture B ecause of funding, war, and politics, the construction of the Whitten Building, as we know it today, spanned a period of nearly thirty years. The building was designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm of Rankin, Kellogg and Crane. Eventually, the entire building was constructed according to their neo-classical design. It is the only cabinet level agency building located directly on the mall.
Because Congress reduced the original requested appropriation from $2.5 million to $1.5 million in 1903, only the east and west laboratory buildings were funded to consolidate the Department’s expanding research and development programs. Early twentieth century idealized illustrations, depict sheep grazing between the two, L-shaped, laboratory buildings.
Finally, in 1926 Congress appropriated $2 million to fund the central Administration building. Completed in 1930, the Administration building has housed every Secretary since. The building was renamed the Jamie L. Whitten Building (Public Law 103-404), in June 1995. Congressman Whitten of Mississippi, served as Chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.
