The Sanborn Field is a designated National Historic Landmark thanks to its great contribution in the study of erosion and run-off for various agricultural products and practices. The experiments held in this part of the University of Missouri's campus helped largely in establishing the soil conservation policy of the country.

Established in 1888, the Sanborn Field is the first area for such experiments. It initially used manure fertilizer upon creation and then used chemical fertilizer in 1914. It helped the public learn more about the importance of crop rotation, as well as the need for exhausted soils to recover.

Due to its great contributions to agriculture, the Sanborn Field was declared as an NHL in 1964. Issues, however, arose upon the construction of new buildings in the area, which could lead to shading the land and diminishing the research potential of the spot.