WWI: Camps AU and Leach
In 1917 American University (AU) offered the government use of the still unfinished campus for army training. At the time, only the College of History (Hurst Hall) and McKinley Building had been built, both of which were used by the army during the war years. The government established two separate camps, Camp American University and Camp Leach. The campus was mainly utilized by the Engineer Officers’ Reserve Corps, who established a training camp on the university grounds. In addition, the campus was home to camouflagers, foresters, and the science laboratories of the Bureau of Mines.  Mary Graydon Center (the Pennsylvania Building) was begun during this time by the U.S. government and intended to be used as science laboratories, but the war ended before construction was completed.