General Land Office (White Pigeon, Michigan)

The General Land Office in White Pigeon, Michigan is the oldest surviving land office in Michigan.[1] 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.,[2][3]

General Land Office Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Michigan State Historic Site
The Old Land Office Building in 2019
Location	113 West Chicago Road (US-12), White Pigeon, MI
Coordinates	41°47′53″N 85°38′38″W
Area	0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built	1830
Architectural style	Greek Revival
NRHP reference No.	88003234
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	February 7, 1989
Designated MSHS	April 10, 1986

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.[4]

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.[5]

The land office was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 7, 1989.[6]

The White Pigeon land office is the oldest building in Southwest Michigan and one of the oldest in the state.[7]

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.

Aerial photo of front of the Old US Government Land Office Building

References

1. Michigan Markers
2. "Michigan State Land Office Board records: 1816-1924". Bentley Historical Library. University of Michigan. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
3. "The White Pigeon Land Office". Michigan.org. Pure Michigan. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
4. "The Land Office". historygrandrapids.org. History of Grand Rapids. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
5. "Michigan Markers". michmarkers.com. The Michigan Historical Marker Web Site. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
6. , National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
7. "Michigan Markers". michbar.org. The State Bar of Michigan. Retrieved 21 September 2016.