By using the URLs listed below, it is possible to obtain information
of land sales by the BLM for most states west of the Mississippi
River.

About 1820 the US government obtained the right to lands in the west
previously held by the original states. The government surveyed
these lands and proceeded to sell them to the pioneers moving west.

The lands were surveyed in a grid pattern of Township-Range-Section
and the sections were divided into parts. These documents were called
land patents and are visible at: http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/

Once the legaldescription numbers are entered into
http://www.esg.montana.edu/gl/trs-data.html
an aerial photo or topographic map of the location is available.

I think it is really cool to be able to look at an aerial and say my
ggggf lived, farmed, raised children on that 40 acres right there in
that picture. It is even more moving to visit the place (with
current owners permission of course).

Try it.

Tom