Homestead National Monument
As we pull into the parking lot, we slow to watch a killdeer cross in front of us. The wave of the heritage center roof-line points to the sky and is an interesting contrast to the flat prairie that surrounds it. We have made it to Homestead National Monument.
Our car door opens and the staccato cries of red-winged blackbirds and sharp peeps of killdeer are loud. We stop at a bench beside the parking lot to eat our breakfast that we purchased at the Sunrise Bakery in Beatrice. The donuts are delicious!
The path from the parking lot to the heritage center is lined with metal images of U.S. states with square holes in them. Each hole represents the amount of land that was given away under the Homestead Act, which was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862.
The heritage center displays historic memorabilia used by homesteaders and describes the stories of how the land was settled. First they built their houses. Then they farmed the land. A lot of the land was poor for farming, so a lot of farms failed. The land was free, but the settling of the land was arduous and unforgiving. Many people died.
The documentary in the movie room highlighted the impact of homesteading on the Native Americans. They were herded onto reservations already, but those reservations were then divided into individual plots. The poorest land was given to the Indians, and the white settlers got the rest.
Down the road, the education center displayed quilts and photography.
Homestead National Monument is located on the first homestead that was established. It had been farmed, but it was converted back to prairie. The land, minus the buildings, looks much as it would have before it was settled.
It is a great place to learn about this important part of U.S. history. Admission is free.
Activities
Geocaching | Hiking | PicnickingAmenities
Gift Shop | Picnic Tables | Trash Cans | Toilets | Wifi | Visitor Center/Museum/Environmental Education CenterFeatures
Prairie | WetlandMore information about Homestead National Monument can be found at the NPS website.