homestead national monument of america

We did not know what to expect when we stopped at this small National Monument (195 ac.) during our 10 state road trip. It was a very pleasant surprise. This is a fascinating and educational site to visit. It does a great job of telling the story of the hardships and efforts of the homesteaders. It is the site of the first 160-acre homestead under the Homestead Act. The homestead was by Daniel Freeman in 1863. The fairly new Heritage Center serves as both a visitor center and a museum. There is a very good 22-minute introductory video shown at the Heritage Center. The Heritage Center tells the story of the struggles the homesteaders to establish homesteads in 30 of the states. It also tells the story of the conversion of the tall grass prairie to cultivated farmland by the homesteaders. Over 100 acres of the Freeman homestead have been restored to tall grass prairie. There is loop trail through the area of restored tall grass prairie. There is also a log cabin constructed in 1867 on another nearby homestead and moved to the National Monument. We also visited the one-room Freeman School, which is about 1 mile west of the Heritage Center. We were fortunate that shortly after we arrived a the Freeman School, a Park Ranger arrived at the site, opened up the school and give us a short tour with the history it. The school has been restored to its 1890’s appearance. The Park Service employees and volunteers at the Homestead National Monument are very knowledge and do a great job of interpretation of the history of the Freeman homestead, and the Homestead Act. This National Monument is well worth a visit by all ages.

The site of the 1st homestead filed in 1863, a new museum was added a few years ago, detailing not only the effects of the act in the midwest, but all over America.

We were roadtripping to the West, and the promises of the West (real, perceived, or broken) were contained here, an essential stop for us. Daniel Freeman received his acreage of land to live and farm on the very same day that Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation came out in 1863. And the monument preserves an eyeful's view of what that might have looked like, alongside a log cabin from 1873 that has been moved to the premises. We did a morning hike (bug spray, people! And water, too - even at 8am it's hot) along the 2-mile prairie trail and saw a billion bunnies scampering alongside us. By the time we completed the loop, we went into the snazzy visitor's center where we went through all the good exhibits and watched the excellent 22-minute video detailing this story. The implications of the Homestead Act are filled with tragedy for some, resilience for others, and beginnings for yet more, and the video gives you good perspectives from so many sides. Seriously, tears came to my eyes, and we actually had a good conversation about it in the car when we left. Homestead will shape your look at virtually all scenery you see on your journey through this region, from the isolated family ranches where you see new and ancient ones standing side by side against vast farmlands, to the small-towns you pass through like Wilber, NE, a little north of the Homestead Monument, the unlikely but official Czech capital of the USA as illustrated by a big mural surrounding Slavic-titled buildings. To say nothing of the Lakota spirit that blows in the wind throughout the region. I consider this site one of the best institutions of the NPS that I've been to, and I highly recommend it for anyone roadtripping their way through this land.

The Homestead act is tied to this place. This is where America started where everybody can out and stick their land and found it in order to qualify for free acreage

Outside iron plate showing the real area of homestead on every state was inspiring.Two things learned:1: Life was never easy. One has to use his own strength to build his house, even if he's got the luck from heaven. more than 60% of the homestead were failed.2: Four types of room built during the homestead movement.

We participated in the annual Halloween event at the Homestead National Monument this year. It was a great time. We watched the wizard do some scientific experiments, walked on the prairie trails and listened to stories of what Halloween may have been like during Homestead times. We viewed some live animals, touched snakes ( well I didn't...yuck) but those around me did. We viewed the night sky with telescopes- that was totally awesome and even viewed skylab as it crossed the sky near the homestead. The demonstrations were fun and educational and the displays were cool too. Kids received a pumpkin to carve and the carved pumpkins were lit with candles and it made a really cool exit when it was time to leave. I recommend this free activity to everyone.

A great place to hike, relax and learn about history! Lots of good info in the Heritage center, and a great place to go and get away for an hour or two.

This was a surprise to my friend and I. We never knew much about homesteading, but now are fairly well versed. The displays and artifacts are well thought out and impressive in quantity and quality. The trail from the education center to the Heritage Center is a nice with a chance to see wildlife---we saw deer---, see farm equipment, plantings typical to homesteaders and to get a little exercise. Do remember to bring a jacket if it is cool or breezy since there is no shelter from the wind on the prairie. It was interesting to see some of the now famous people who either homesteaded or were children of homesteaders listed at the education center.

This a must see if you are anywhere near Beatrice, Nebraska. I am a student of history and I learned a great deal here. The exhibits are top notch and the walk through the prairie was great.

This place truly is a hidden treasure. The facilities are beautiful and full of great information, pictures, recordings, and stuff. It is well worth a trip

This is a remote National Park Service facility located in the middle of nowhere (outside Beatrice, Nebraska). We really didn’t know what to expect and were pleased to see a very modern, extensive museum dedicated to the history of the homestead movement in America.The ranger on duty explained the site was the very first homestead plot issued when the Homestead Act was put into effect and that is why the location is where it is. The year was 1862. The story behind the doctor who filed for this plot is fascinating.This is a unique piece of Americana and something everyone should know about how the west was developed. There is a lot of information of how homesteading took land belonging to various Indian tribes and one comes away with a real sense of America's settling of the continent. Very well done, NPS.

We really enjoyed out visit here ! A real eye opener on how hard life was for the settlers. The staff is friendly and full of information !

Homesteading in the U.S. Is almost an untold story, but this place sets that right. You don't know U.S. History until you know about it. This venue is the genuine article, located on the grounds of Homestead Claim #1. In this part of Nebraska, it deserves to be the top attraction. Two comments: The orientation movie was a little long on art and emotion and short on actual factual history, which is what an orientation is to be about. I walked away not sure what I was being told about homesteading: a source of national pride (the pioneer spirit and it's triumph) or a source of national shame (moral crimes against the American Indian). Second, the orientation tho the computer system to search homestead claims was inadequate.

This national monument is dedicated to The Homestead Act of 1862, and is located at the site of the first homesteading property. There are very interesting exhibits in the Visitor Center, including a informative movie, as well as outdoor exhibits. They provide a balanced presentation of the effect of The Homestead Act on families moving west and the Native Americans who lived in the area.

This is a very well balanced story of the effects of the homesteading on both the Native Americans and the homesteaders. The grounds are immaculate and the staff was friendly and helpful. It is definitely worth the time to stop and learn more American history.