1862 — Land Grant Act signed by President Abraham Lincoln
1864 — Purchase of land for college site, including 73 acres that formed the Durfee holdings
1867 — Durfee Plant House constructed
1875 — Durfee experiment to measure surface pressure of a chili squash received world-wide attention
1878 — First sale catalog of plants issued by Durfee
1883 — Original Durfee buildings seriously damaged by fire
1890 — Durfee received donated Japanese maples from Mount Fuji
1892 — Renovations to conservatory complete
1893 — One-ton century plant (Agave Americana varigata) blossomed
1934 — Part of Harvard plant collection donated to Durfee
1938 — Oak tree downed in hurricane; one entire house destroyed, followed by a steady decline and general state of disrepair
1954 — New conservatory building constructed
1978 — All-American Display Garden designation assigned
1980 — Horticultural therapy program instituted
1992 — History of Durfee Conservatory published for 125th anniversary
1993 — Phase I of Durfee Gardens Project constructed
2006 — Durfee Conservatory transferred to UMass Extension
2007 — Renovations to upgrade conservatory begun
2013 — UMass celebrates 150th year anniversary
2014 — UMass Cooperative Extension celebrates 100th year anniversary
