Tulane University – Hebert Riverside Research Center

As you stand before the Tulane University – Hebert Riverside Research Center, you might be surprised to learn its past life was quite different. It wasn’t always a place of scientific discovery and quiet reflection. Instead, this complex of bunkers was once a bustling US Navy munitions depot.
The Tulane University – Hebert Riverside Research Center is now dedicated to the study of ecology and environmental biology. It was a big dream for Dr. Fred Cagle, a herpetologist, who envisioned the place becoming an extensive research park, with labs, a library, and a place for visiting researchers to stay.
But the genesis of this research center comes from a unique partnership. The complex was donated to Tulane University in 1963 thanks to the efforts of Congressman F. Edward Hébert. Hébert was a staunch supporter of the US Navy, and he saw the importance of transferring unused military property to universities and research institutions. The Tulane University – Hebert Riverside Research Center was one of the beneficiaries of this policy.
Today you can visit the center and see how the former Navy munitions depot has been transformed into a hub of scientific learning. It serves as a testament to the collaboration between the military and academia and its ongoing contribution to our understanding of the natural world.