Homestead National Monument of America
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Homestead National Monument of America | |
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| IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) | |
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| Location: | Nebraska, USA |
| Nearest city: | Beatrice, NE |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 195 acres (0.78 km²) |
| Established: | March 19, 1936 |
| Total Visitation: | 56,566 (in 2002) |
| Governing body: | National Park Service |
The Homestead National Monument of America commemorates the Homestead Act of 1862. Located west of Beatrice, Nebraska, Daniel Freeman's homestead was recognized by the United States Congress as the first homestead in the nation obtained through the Homestead Act. It is maintained by the National Park Service. From the NPS Web site:
| “ | The cry was FREE LAND!! 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 (0.6 km²) of free land to claimants, it allowed nearly any man or woman a chance to live the "American dream". The park helps visitors gain an understanding on how the Act changed the lives of all Americans and the land. | ” |
The monument contains a visitor center, a tract of tallgrass prairie, and the Freeman School. On April 21, 2006, construction of a new visitor center began. The new facility will have 4 times the floor space as the existing visitor center; the parking lot will be exactly one acre in area, as a demonstration tool of exactly how big an acre is. The visitor center is projected to be complete in late 2007; many exhibits currently in storage will be on display.
