Edition 2 How Public Lands Came to Be: A Very Brief Historical Overview

Credit: National Geographic

Land Acquisition and Expansion

The history of public lands in the United States began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as U.S. policy prioritized land acquisition across North America—a period referred to as the Era of Western Expansion. Through purchases and treaties—including the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the Mexican Cession (1848)—the federal government obtained millions of acres. Policies like the Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged settlement by offering land to individuals willing to cultivate it. These actions were accompanied by the forced removal and displacement of Native American communities through legislation such as the Indian Removal Act (1830) and the Dawes Act (1887), often resulting in coerced treaties and the loss of tribal lands.

Credit: More Than Just Parks

Shift Toward Conservation and Management

By the early 20th century, concerns over environmental degradation from practices like overgrazing, timber harvesting, and mining prompted a shift toward conservation. Advocates such as John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and President Theodore Roosevelt promoted the protection of natural areas. Their efforts led to the creation of the National Forest System, the passage of the Antiquities Act (1906), and the founding of the National Park System. While these initiatives introduced landmark protections, they often continued to exclude or displace Native peoples.

Credit: OnX

Modern Public Land Policy and Use

Throughout the 20th century, landmark legislation further shaped public land policy. The 1960s and 70s brought a new wave of environmental legislation including The Wilderness Act (1964), Clean Water Act (1972), and Endangered Species Act (1973). These laws outlined guidelines for conservation and public land management. Today, the federal government manages approximately 640 million acres—about 28% of the nation's land—through agencies including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These lands support a variety of uses, including recreation, conservation, energy development, and grazing.

*The Wilderness Society has created a free curriculum on public lands and can be downloaded here.

About the Author

Connie Is the Director of Content Marketing at Nature's Playbook. She believes access to the outdoors is essential to a happy and healthy life, and hopes that by sharing her experiences in nature she'll inspire others to get outside and reconnect with their surroundings and the people around them.