FBI Trivia

Since its founding in the early twentieth century, the FBI has grown from a small band of federal investigators into one of the most recognizable law enforcement agencies in the world, its name shorthand for serious, wide-reaching investigation.

From Bureau of Investigation to Household Name

The agency traces its roots to 1908, when the Department of Justice formed a small force of special agents. It wasn't until 1935 that the organization officially took the name Federal Bureau of Investigation. J. Edgar Hoover led the bureau for an extraordinary stretch, shaping its methods and public image for nearly fifty years, a tenure so long that Congress later capped future directors to ten-year terms.

Cases and Symbols That Became Part of American Culture

A few institutions and moments turned the FBI into pop-culture shorthand for federal justice.

• The Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, launched in 1950, became a fixture of post offices and news reports for generations.
• The pursuit of Depression-era criminals like John Dillinger helped cement the bureau's early reputation.
• The FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, remains the training ground for new agents.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C.'s J. Edgar Hoover Building, the modern FBI now handles everything from counterterrorism to cybercrime, guided by its long-standing motto of fidelity, bravery, and integrity.