General Land Office

The General Land Office (GLO) was a U.S. government agency established in 1812 responsible for managing public lands. Its primary functions included surveying, selling, and distributing federal land to individuals, businesses, and states to promote settlement and development. The GLO played a key role in mapping and documenting land ownership, helping to organize westward expansion. In 1946, it merged with other agencies to form the Bureau of Land Management, which continues to oversee public lands today. Essentially, the GLO was essential in overseeing and facilitating the orderly disposition of federal land across the United States.