General Land Office (White Pigeon, Michigan) facts for kids
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General Land Office Building
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The Old Land Office Building in 2019
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 113 West Chicago Road (US-12), White Pigeon, MI |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1830 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003234 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 7, 1989 |
The General Land Office Building in White Pigeon, Michigan is a really old and important building. It's the oldest land office still standing in Michigan. This building helped shape how Michigan grew! It's even recognized as a special Michigan State Historic Site.
Back in the day, land offices were like government stores where people could buy land. The United States government used these offices to sell public land to individuals. Michigan's very first land office opened in Detroit in 1804. The White Pigeon office was the third one to open in Michigan.
History of the White Pigeon Land Office
The White Pigeon land office was built in a great spot along the Chicago Road. This road, also known as the Sauk Trail, connected the important cities of Chicago and Detroit. This made it easy for people to travel and buy land.
The U.S. government started selling land in Michigan after the Treaty of Chicago in 1821. In this treaty, the Potawatomi and other Native American tribes agreed to share their land. This made a lot of land available for sale.
The White Pigeon land office was open for about four years, from 1831 to 1834. During that short time, over 250,000 acres of land were sold from this office! The price was about $1.25 per acre. One of the first people to buy land from this office was Louis Campau in October 1833. He bought land in Kent County, Michigan.
The General Land Office Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 7, 1989. This means it's a very important historical place in the country. It's also the oldest building in Southwest Michigan and one of the oldest in the entire state!
Building Design and Style
The General Land Office Building was built in 1830. It features the Greek Revival architectural style. This style was popular in the early 1800s and often used elements from ancient Greek temples. We don't know who the architect was for this building.
The building is located right in downtown White Pigeon. It's a simple, yet classic, design. There's even a story that the building might have been used as a secret meeting place at one time!
