Homesteading Day in Oregon
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Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber proclaimed June 7, 2012, as Homesteading Day in Oregon! This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act of 1862 brought about significant and lasting changes to the United States. Giving individuals from the United States and around the world the opportunity to claim free government land allowed nearly any man or woman a chance to live the American Dream. During the homesteading era over 1.6 million people stepped-up to the challenge to claim and settle more than 270 million acres of public land. The 1862 Homestead Act and other laws gave “Homesteading the Land" a special meaning. People had to fulfill the legal requirements of the acts in order to be awarded the land. Once they met the requirements, the Federal government granted them a patent of ownership for their land. As part of the celebration, the BLM recently launched a companion website named Our Heritage, Our Future. The site features essays from BLM employees around the United States who share their “living histories," an interactive timeline of BLM history, and other features showcasing the BLM's growing mission: blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/history.html“These websites give people a chance to learn about the challenges of modern multiple-use management, especially considering the breadth and diversity of today's public land resources and what they mean to the public," said Acting State Director Mike Mottice. Throughout the course of the year the BLM will be offering many opportunities for the public to learn more about these key dates in our Nation's history. Additional information about upcoming events at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is available online at: blm.gov/or/oregontrail
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.