General Land Office (White Pigeon, Michigan) facts for kids
|
General Land Office Building
|
|
The Old Land Office Building in 2019
|
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 113 West Chicago Road (US-12), White Pigeon, MI |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1830 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003234 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | February 7, 1989 |
The General Land Office in White Pigeon, Michigan is the oldest surviving land office in Michigan. It is designated as a Michigan State Historic Site. The United States land offices were the federal government agency that was primarily responsible for the sale and of public land to individual purchasers. Michigan's first land office was established in Detroit in 1804. The US Land office in White Pigeon was the third office to open in Michigan.,
The White Pigeon land office was located on the Chicago Road (Sauk Trail), which linked Chicago and Detroit. The first settler in Kent County, Michigan to buy land from the office was Louis Campau in October 1833.
The U.S. started issuing land in Michigan after the Treaty of Chicago, in which the Potawatomi and other tribes turned over their land, was signed in 1821. The White Pigeon land office operated for about 4 years from 1831-1834. During that time over a quarter million acres of land were sold from this office at a rate of $1.25 per acre.
The land office was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 7, 1989.
The White Pigeon land office is the oldest building in Southwest Michigan and one of the oldest in the state.
Design
The land office was built in the Greek Revival architectural style; the architect is unknown. It is located in downtown White Pigeon. The building may at one time been used as a secret meeting hall.
