An Act to authorize the condemnation of lands for sites for public buildings, and other purposes (25 Stat.

357), commonly known as the Condemnation Act or the Act of August 1, 1888, is a federal statute adopted by the 50th United States Congress and signed into law on August 1, 1888, which authorizes federal officials to seek eminent domain condemnation of land for the purpose of erecting public buildings.

94), which provided for condemnation proceedings in order to improve rivers or harbors, and which also required the federal government to seek eminent domain only in state courts.

[2] It amended this act on June 29, 1906, to permit condemnation proceedings even if the exercise of eminent domain solely benefited private parties.

[2] The authority of federal officials to exercise their powers under the Act was challenged by private citizens and the state of Missouri in the 1940s.