Holland Land Office, Federal office building in Batavia, United States
The Holland Land Office is a stone building on West Main Street in Batavia, designed in 1815 by surveyor Joseph Ellicott and now open to the public as a museum. The structure displays early 19th century features and holds a collection of surveying tools, historical maps, and objects related to land management.
The building was established to serve Dutch investors managing land sales in Western New York and remained their principal office until the Holland Land Company ceased operations in 1839. Its founding was closely tied to the organized settlement of the region and marked a turning point in Western frontier development.
This office was the hub where land transactions shaped the growth of the entire region, and today it reflects how crucial property distribution was to Western New York's early development. Visitors can see how the spaces were used and which objects reveal the daily work of surveyors and administrators.
The building is centrally located in Batavia and is easy to reach on foot from downtown, with accessibility considered for visitors with different needs. The best time to visit is during open hours when the museum is staffed with knowledgeable people who can explain the collection.
The building received the recognition of National Historic Landmark as the first such structure in Western New York and remains the only one with this honor in Genesee County. This rare distinction reflects the important role the office played in shaping regional development and settlement patterns.
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