The functions of the office of National Capital Parks originated pursuant to the act of Congress approved July 16, 1790 (1 Stat. 130). On July 1, 1898 (30 Stat. 570), Congress vested in the Commissioners of the District of Columbia the jurisdiction and control of street parking and placed the park system of the District of Columbia under the exclusive control of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. On April 28, 1902 (32 Stat. 152), the Chief of Engineers was given charge of certain public buildings and grounds in the District of Columbia. By act approved December 5, 1919 (41 Stat. 364), the United States Park Police was organized. The Office of Public Buildings and Grounds under the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, and the Office of Superintendent of the State, War and Navy Department Buildings were consolidated into a single office and designated as the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital by act of February 26, 1925 (43 Stat. 983, 984). The act of Congress

of March 4, 1929 (45 Stat. 1696), authorized the development of the Mall. The act of May 29, 1930 (46 Stat. 482) provided for the acquisition and development of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital, the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission, and the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Commission were abolished and their functions, among others, were consolidated in the Office of National Parks, Buildings, and Reservations under the Department of the Interior, by Executive Order No. 6166 of June 10, 1933, pursuant to section 16 of the act of March 3, 1933 (47 Stat. 1517). The above-mentioned name was changed to the National Park Service by act of March 2, 1934 (48 Stat. 389). Under Plan 1 on Government Reorganization, pursuant to the act of April 3, 1939 (53 Stat. 1427), function of the administration of public buildings was transferred to the Federal Works Agency, predecessor of the General Services Administration.