Discover Southeast Nebraska’s only National Park; Homestead National Historical Park
The world was forever changed by the Homestead Act of 1862. Come learn about the impacts the Homestead Act had on the United States and the world. Bring your family and friends and experience the monument’s unique features including the award winning Heritage Center, the Palmer-Epard Cabin, a 100 acre tall grass prairie, the Education Center, and the Freeman School. There is no entrance fee; also all programs and events are free. At the Heritage Center explore the state of the art museum and see the highly acclaimed film “Land of Dreams: Homesteading America”. Walk through the Palmer-Epard Cabin and Freeman School; built over 130 years ago, they offer visitors a firsthand experience of frontier life. Follow the footsteps of homesteaders on the nearly three miles of trails that wind through the 100 acre restored tallgrass prairie. Visit the Education Center’s special exhibitions and Farm Implement Room that showcases the tools homesteaders relied on for improving their land. Participate in living history demonstrations daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Numerous unique special events are offered through the year.
Park hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. From Memorial Day through Labor Day the Monument is open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
It is the purpose of our government "to elevate the condition of men, to lift artificial burdens from all shoulders and to give everyone an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life." President Abraham Lincoln, July 4, 1861.
The Homestead Act of 1862 was one of the most significant and enduring events in the westward expansion of the United States. By granting 160 acres of free land to claimants, it allowed nearly any man or woman a "fair chance." Homestead National Monument of America, located in Southeast Nebraska, commemorates this Act and the far-reaching effects it had upon the landscape and people.
The Homestead National Monument has many exciting and fun events all year around, refer to the calendar of events below and see which ones you'd like to attend!
To contact the park for more information:
Mailing Address:
8523 West State Highway 4
Beatrice , NE 68310
Phone:
(402) 223-3514
Honoring One Room Schools!
Admission to all events, exhibits and displays – free!
Special Exhibitions at the Education Center
January-March: One Room Country School Photographs by Gloria Hawkins
April: National Park Service Quilt Exhibit
June: One Room Country School Photographs by Gloria Hawkins
Welcome Home: Artistic Quilts of One Room Schools
July-November: Black Homesteaders of DeWitty, Nebraska
November 23 – December 31: Winter Festival of Prairie Cultures
JANUARY
6 Saturday 2:00 p.m. Remembering the Children’s Blizzard of 1888
7 Sunday 2:00 p.m. Workshop on Blizzard of 1888 – reservations required
13 & 14 Sat-Sun 2:00 p.m. Film Festival: Days of the One Room Schoolhouse
20 & 21 Sat-Sun 2:00 p.m. Film Festival: Country School: One Room – One Nation
27 & 28 Sat-Sun 2:00 p.m. Film Festival: Last of the One Room Schools 1&2
FEBRUARY
3 & 4 Sat-Sun 2:00 p.m. Film Festival: Last of the One Room Schools 3&4
10 & 11 Sat-Sun 2:00 p.m. Film Festival: The Lord is Not On Trial Here Today
17 & 18 Sat-Sun 2:00 p.m. Film Festival: Little House on the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura
Ingalls Wilder
24 & 25 Sat-Sun 2:00 p.m. Film Festival: Frontier University Dreams
25 Sunday 1:00 p.m. African American Homesteaders of DeWitty, NE
Dr. William Hunt and Artes Johnson
MARCH
4 Sunday 2:00 p.m. Impact of the Spanish Flu on Rural Nebraska
by Kristin Watkins, University of Colorado
18 Sunday 2:00 p.m. Homesteading the Plains: Toward a New History presentation
by Dr. Rick Edwards, Rebecca Wingo, Jacob Friefeld
19 Monday 2:00 p.m. Celebrating the Creation of Homestead National Monument
22 & 23 Thu-Fri 9-3:00 Heartland Storytelling Festival
30-31 Fri-Sat Junior Ranger Weekend
31 Saturday 1-5 p.m. Egg Painting Demonstration by Norma Hyman
APRIL
1 Sunday Junior Ranger Weekend
8 Sunday Spanish Flu Pandemic program and booksigning by Nancy Bristow
21-29 Sat-Sun National Park Week
29 Sunday Who Was Willa Cather?: Newly Released Letters of Willa Cather
by Andrew Jewell
.
MAY
4 & 5 Fri-Sat 8:00 a.m. Birds & Bagels
19 Saturday 7:00 a.m. Homestead Critter Count - BioBlitz
26 Saturday 10:00 a.m. Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival – Free Workshop
26 Saturday 1:00 p.m. Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival – Competition – 20th Anniversary
JUNE
1 & 2 Fri-Sat 8:00 a.m. Birds & Bagels
14 Thursday 2:00 p.m. U.S. Immigration Naturalization Ceremony - U.S. Flag Day
17 Sunday 2:00 p.m. Celebrating One Room Schools
22-24 Fri-Sun Homestead Days – Music, living history, farming demonstrations,
children’s festival, Civil War Encampment
JULY
4 Wednesday 7:00 p.m. July 4th Heritage Campfire Program
7 Saturday 10:00 a.m. Kids in Parks Program / History Detective
7 Saturday 7:00 p.m. Heritage Campfire Program
14 Saturday 10:00 a.m. Kids in Parks Program / History Detective
14 Saturday 7:00 p.m. Heritage Campfire Program
21 Saturday 10:00 a.m. Kids in Parks Program / History Detective
21 Saturday 7:00 p.m. Heritage Campfire Program
28 Saturday 10:00 a.m. Kids in Parks Program /History Detective
28 Saturday 7:00 p.m. Heritage Campfire Program
AUGUST
4 Saturday 10:00 a.m. Kids in Parks Program / History Detective
4 Saturday 7:00 p.m. Heritage Campfire Program
11 Saturday 7:00 p.m. Heritage Campfire Program
SEPTEMBER
1-3 Sat-Mon Labor Day Weekend Events
1 Saturday 10-4 Living History Activities
2 Sunday 10:00 a.m. Cars of the Homestead Era 1900-1980’s Car Show
3 Monday 10:00 a.m. 9th Annual Old Fashioned Spelling Bee at the Freeman School
17 Monday 2:00 p.m. U.S. Immigration Naturalization Ceremony – Constitution Day
29 Saturday 9:30 a.m. Public Lands Day Volunteer Project
OCTOBER
6 Saturday 9:30 a.m. Prairie Work Day - A Prairie Appreciation Week Event
7 Sunday 2:00 p.m. 6th Annual Homestead Hedge Apple Festival
14 Sunday 2:00 p.m. Family History Month - Special Speaker
27 Saturday 6:00 p.m. Howling Homestead
NOVEMBER
4 Sunday 2:00 p.m. American Indian Heritage Month Program - Special Speaker
23-25 Fri – Sun Junior Ranger Weekend
25 Sunday 2:00 p.m. Winter Festival of Prairie Cultures - Special Speaker
DECEMBER
2 Sunday 2:00 p.m. Winter Festival of Prairie Cultures - Special Speaker
9 Sunday 2:00 p.m. Winter Festival of Prairie Cultures - Special Speaker
