Our public land heritage

The challenge of managing public lands started as soon as America established its independence and began acquiring additional lands. Initially, these public lands were used to encourage homesteading and westward migration, and the General Land Office (GLO) was created to support this national goal. Over time, however, values and attitudes regarding public lands shifted. Many significant laws and events led to the establishment of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and laid the foundation for its mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America's public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. This illustrated timeline highlights some of these laws and events, beginning with signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and ending in 2012 to mark the 200th anniversary of the General Land Office and 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act.