On March 6, 1856, the State of Maryland granted a charter for the creation of Maryland Agricultural College. Opening its doors to 34 eager young men in 1859, the college survived a disastrous fire in 1912 to become the University of Maryland in 1920. Today the school is a top-ranked, public research land-grant university with over 100 undergraduate majors, 120 graduate programs, and 35,000 students. Campus History Series: University of Maryland honors the history of the university and all who have contributed to its progress: faculty, staff, students, and alumni. From its earliest years, their labors and love for the institution have led to the creation of an intellectually vibrant and culturally diverse university that serves proudly as the flagship campus of the University System of Maryland. Images from the University of Maryland Archives and other campus sources, many never before published, illustrate the University of Maryland's rise from a "cow college" to an internationally recognized academic, artistic, and athletic powerhouse in the 21st century.