USGS

The mission of the United States Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to the nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and island communities. The department was responsible for the construction of the national capital's water system, the colonization of freed slaves in Haiti, exploration of western wilderness, oversight of the District of Columbia jail, regulation of territorial governments, management of hospitals and universities, management of public parks and the basic responsibilities for Indians, public lands, patents and pensions. Department of the Interior agencies are the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Minerals Management Service, National Park Service, Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey. U.S. Department of the Interior is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with an office in Colorado, Arizona, Mississippi and North Carolina.