Table Of ContentGold dredge in Alaska, 1938
Placer mining in Colorado, 1893
The challenge of managing public lands started as soon as America
established its independence and began acquiring additional lands. jp
Initially, these public lands were used to encourage homesteading and >j£
westward migration, and the General Land Office (GLO) was created ija
r 1861•1865
to support this national goal. Over time, however, values and attitudes JjK
"America rfbmlV
regarding public lands shifted. Many significant laws and events led
to the establishment of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and
i,7,
laid the foundation for its mission to sustain the health, diversity, and |f- ■SO&t't-iNimEi ft, 1894 Taylor Grazing Ac!
productivity’ of America's public lands for the use and enjoyment of ' General Mining Law Carey Act aufrorizejs authorizes gazing
1917.1918
present and future generations, j|| identifies mineral transfer of up to . districts, grazing
World War I
lands as a distinct 1 million acres of ft ■ regulation, and
www.blm.gov/history *
1824 1837 1843 1850 I860 class of public lands public desert land tc 1906 El public rangeland
1929 ft
Office of Indian On its 25th "Great Migration” First railroad land First Pony Express subject to exploration, states for settling, Antiquities Act Great Depression f improvements in
1812 Affairs is established anniversary, the on the Oregon Trail grants are made in rider leaves occupation, and 1889 irrigating, and preserves and 1911 western states
purchase under cultivating purposes (excluding Alaska)
Revolutionary War ends General in the Department General Land Office begins. Illinois, Alabama, and St. Joseph, Missouri. Oklahoma Land Rush protects prehistoric, Weeks Act permits
isL easntda bOlifsfihceed of tWraanrs afenrdr eids tloat er hlaasn d6 5o fdfiicstersic. t 1844 Mississippi. 1862 stipulated conditions. bfeedgeinrasl tphueb dliics pdoosmala ionf 1897 hscisietonrtiicfi,c aanlldy the offe dperirvaal tep ularcnhd ase aDnidv iseisotna bolfi sGhreasz itnhge
1776 within the the Department of First geological Homestead Act Establishment of lands in Oklahoma. Forest Management significant sites on to protect the 1920 (later renamed the
Declaration of 1785 1803 Treasury the Inteior surveys of public entitles settlers to Yellowstone National “Organic” Act public lands and headwaters of rivers Mineral Leasing Act U.S. Grazing Service)
iadeijpwliice Land Ordinance Meriwether Lewis Ohio becomes the Department lands are initiated 160 acres of public Park marks a shift transfers fire creates national and watersheds and authorizes federal within the Department
is signed. allows settlement of first state created to oversee by the General Land Wtheo rtkraecrsk sjo fionrin g land after they reside from disposition to protection monuments. calls for cooperative leasing of public lands of the Interior.
conservation and responsibilities for
public domain lands from the public disposition of Office in Michigan. the first on and cultivate the fire protection efforts. for private extraction
1778 and establishes domain. ceded and Homestead transcontinenta land for 5 years. protection of federal forest reserves from of oil, gas, coal, 1937
Second Continental the government’s acquired lands. 1849 railroad lands. Travel across the desert the Department of 1916 phosphate, sodium, Oregon and California
peCrsounagdriensgs sbteagteinss t o rectansgyustleamr s.u rvey InDteeripoarr itsm eesntta bolfi tshhee d RTarialrnosacdo nAtcint egnivtaels 1877 in California ArmyL aton dt hOef fGiceen. era1 SHtoocmk eRsatiesaindg and other minerals. L(Oa&ndCs) SRuesvtaeisnteedd
cede land to create and the General Land railroad companies Desert Land Act Act authorizes 1926 Yield Management
the public domain. 1789 Office is transferred to rights-of-way and authorizes the 1898 homesteads of Recreation and Act requires O&C
U.S. Constitution the new department. alternate sections of disposition of Congress extends 640 acres and Public Purposes Act Railroad lands
gives Congress the public domain lands 640-acre tracts homestead laws to separates surface allows conveyance to be managed
“Poof wanedr tmo adkisep aolsl e •.Vf'f' vis alotnhgei rb orathil rsoiaddess. of hoofm peusbtleiac dlearnsd su ptoo n Alaska. TJohheno dMourier , R1o9o0s3e velt and righ(tms ifnroemra ls) urbigshutrsf. ace loarn ldesa tsoe sotfa tpeu balnicd fofroers pt eprrmodauncetniot n
proof of reclamation and provides for
needful Rules ’k-n?.y>7f local governments for
1869 of the lands by watershed protection,
and Regulations outdoor recreation
First transcontinental irrigation. Oklahoma Land Rush regulation of
respecting The purposes.
railroad is completed streamflow, and
Territory and other 1878 m>r»
at Promontory recreational facilities.
Property belonging to
Timber and Stone
the United States." Lewis' and Clark's path across the western portion of North Ameiica, published 1814 Summit, Utah.
Act authorizes the 1939
of the United States
negotiated sale Alaskan Fire Control
1783 1803 1819 1845 1846 1848 1867 of lands that are Service is created
Lands south of the Great Lakes Louisiana Purchase Spanish cession of Florida and Republic of Texas Oregon compromise Mexico cedes California Gadsden Purchase adds United States purchases valuable for either within the General
and east of the Mississippi River nearly doubles the size boundary adjustrr ents west of the is annexed by the gives the United States and vast areas of the almost 19 million acres of Alaska, adding 375 logging or mining and Land Office to prevent
John Trumbull's painting. are ceded to the United States. of the United States. Mississippi River tdd more than 46 United States. claim to part of the Pacific inland West to the public lands in southern million acres to the otherwise unfit for and suppress fires on
Declaration of Independence million acres to the public domain. Northwest. United States. Arizona and New Mexico, public domain. cultivation. Evening campfire, 1926 Alaska public lands.
■ ■
1780 I 1790 1800 l8lO 1820 | 1830 I I84O 1850 I i860 1880 1890 1900 1910
1930
^ says-
Cadastral surveyors This Land m* Alaska pipeline Wind energy project Tent Rocks National Monument
.in New Mexico _
in Wyoming
is YOUR J
Northern
spotted owl
1971
1980
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act provides for
KEEP IT CLEAN!
■,«v settlement of aboriginal land claims of Alaskan Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
Natives and Native groups; the BLM is tasked with designates and conserves public lands in Alaska
the largest U.S. land transfer effort ever undertaken. as national parks, wildlife refuges, wild and scenic
rivers, wilderness, and forests and provides for
Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act subsistence use by rural Alaska residents.
1953
provides for the protection and management 2000
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act authorizes the of these animals on federal lands. Energy Security Act promotes the development National Landscape Conservation System
1960
Secretary of the Interior to lease mineral lands of alternative energy sources such as oil shale, is established.
more than 3 miles offshore; the BLM assumes Public Land Administration Act allows the use of 1973 synthetic fuel, wind power, and geothermal sources. 2012
responsibility for leasing through competitive sales donations and cooperative agreements to improve Endangered Species Act requires the conservation of
Executive Order 13175 mandates consultation 200th anniversary of the General Land Office and
1941•1945 and better manage public lands. threatened and endangered plants and animals and The BLM completes its first resource management and collaboration with tribal officials in developing the 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act
World War II 1954 the ecosystems upon which they depend. plan, covering the California Desert Conservation federal policy that has tribal implications.
1964
Recreation and Public Purposes Act amends 1 Area, and designates its first areas of critical
1926 act and allows the sale and lease of [ Public Land Law Review Commission is 1975 environmental concern in Utah and California. 2005
lands for other purposes in addition to recreation. established to study public land laws and make Energy Policy and Conservation Act addresses 1990
Energy Policy Act ensures energy efficiency
long-term recommendations for public land use. energy demands and establishes a strategic 1983 Northern spotted owl is listed as a threatened
and the production of secure, affordable, and
The BLM reorganizes and creates petroleum reserve. Bear Trap Canyon in southwestern Montana is species under the Endangered Species Act, reliable domestic energy. An environmental education
a state office system. Wilderness Act protects undeveloped federal land designated by Congress as BLM’s first wilderness leading to an enjoinment of all timber sales on program in Colorado
1976
1942 to preserve its natural condition. area (it later became part of Lee Metcalf Wilderness). federal lands within its range. 2008
1955 Federal Land Policy and Management Act requires
Extena1sn3idv med iwellfiieothnnd saerac wuresasel s wb oeitfgh pidnur,ba wwlicint h lia nmn 2do sry efe oatrhr asm.n i litary vaMrieutltiiepsl eo fS murifnaecrea lUs sfreo Amc te nwtirtyh darsa wmsin cinogm cmlaoinm s The BLM adopts a new logo. tahnadt spuusbtlaicin leadn dysi eblde tmhraonuagghe dla nfodr umsuel tpiplalen nuisnegs. The BLMto ttrhaen Msfeinrse rraelss pMonasnibaiglietmy feonrt oSfefsrvhiocree. leasing Energy Policy Act inc1re9a9se2s focus on alternative BLM-manNaagteido nlaaln Sdys satreem o offfi cPiaulblyli dc eLsaignndas.t ed as the
and allows claim owners to use the surface for 1965 Management of the National Petroleum Reserve- energy sources, energy efficiency, and reducing the 2009
1946 mining operation purposes only. Land and Water Conservation 1987 country’s reliance on foreign fuel sources.
Alaska is transferred to the BLM. Omnibus Public Land Management Act
Bwuirtehainu tohfe L Danedp aMrtmaneangte omf ethnet (IBnLteMrio) ri st hersotuagbhli sthheed 1959 aFcuqnudi siist ieosnt aobf loisuhteddo ofro rr efcerdeeartailo n 1977 Feesdtearballi sOhnessh ao rnee wOi ll eaansdin Gg assy sLteeams inangd R cehfoarnmg eAsc t 1993 aLuathnodrsiczaeps et hCeo 2n6s-emrvialltiioonn- aScyres tNemat iaonndal
consolidation Uof.S th. eG Graezninegr aSl eLrvanicde .O ffice and the Wildw Hildo rhseo rPserost ebcyt iaoinrc Aracftt parnodh imbiotsto trh ve erhoiucnledsu. p of 1966 ensSuurrefsa ceen vMirioninnmg eCnotanlt rsoal faengdu aRrdecsl afomr amtiionnin Ag cat nd certain operationalo pnr foecdeedrualr elsa nfodrs .o nshore resources Prtehsei dNeonrtitahlw seusmt Fmoitr elseta Pdsla tno ttoh ea ddderveeslso phmumenatn o f esfotarb ulnisahuetsh opreizrmedit rreemquoivraelm oef nptasl eaonndt opleongaicltaile s
National Historic Preservation Act expands and environmental needs in areas within the
reclamation of mined areas. resources from federal lands.
protection of prehistoric and historic properties. northern spotted owl region.
Today, the BLM benefits the national
Trans Alaska Pipeline System begins transporting
1968 1994 economy as well as the economies of local
oil 800 miles from Alaska’s North Slope
Wild and Scenic Rivers and National Trails to the Port of Valdez. BLM Summit, the first ever gathering of all NATIONAL communities. Activities on BLM lands
System Acts preserve sites with outstanding BLM managers, resulted in the such as energy production, mineral
natural, cultural, scenic, historic, and recreational 1978 development of a new strategic vision V extraction, timber harvesting, grazing,
significance. Public Rangelands Improvement Act requires for the BLM. ./PUBLIC LANDS
md recreation, result in jobs and income
inventory, determination of trends, and
from goods and services associated with
Johnny Horizon program promotes public improvement of public rangelands. Rangeland Reform ’94 amends grazing regulations
awareness of BLM-administered lands. and establishes Resource Advisory Councils. public land resources. In 2010, the BLM’s
1979 management of public lands contributed
1969 Archaeological Resources Protection Act requires 1996 more than $112 billion to the national
National Environmental Policy Act requires federal permits for excavation or removal of these resources Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is
economy and supported more than
agencies to assess the impacts of their actions on from federal lands and provides stringent criminal designated by Presidential proclamation as
500,000 American jobs.
the environment. and civil penalties for violations. BLM’s first national monument.
1970 1980 1990
1940 1950 1960 2000 2010
