On April 29, 1863, Massachusetts Governor John Andrew signed the charter that led to the creation of Massachusetts Agricultural College, just one year after the passage of the federal Morrill Act.  

As we prepared for the university’s sesquicentennial in 2013, the campus began a formal celebration called Founders Day in 2010. What started as a celebratory campus cookout has become an annual opportunity to showcase our pride in UMass Amherst through open houses, tours, exhibits, galleries, demonstrations, and performances.