Homestead National Monument

Cabin of a Nebraska homesteader

For many months Great Husband has been telling me we would one day be going to the Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice, Nebraska. Oh, yeah? You don’t say! Even though it’s only about two hours from home, I had never heard of the place. He sealed the deal by mentioning that at Homestead National Monument I could acquire another official cancellation in my National Parks Passport, and right here in Nebraska. Well, in that case, let’s go! But let's turn this visit into a camping getaway, not just a day trip.

Homestead National Monument of America
Heritage Center

Folk singer John McCutcheon

We timed our visit for the last three days of an incredible week-long special event at Homestead National Monument, marking the sesquicentennial of the Homestead Act of 1862. 

What a fabulous Escape escape! Just in our time there we were treated to

• chautauqua events with presentations by historical figures Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mark Twain, and Willa Cather
• workshops on such themes as harmonica playing, song-writing, and the rise and fall of the Wild West
• a spectacular outdoor concert by folk singer John McCutcheon, who is also a song writer, storyteller, humorist, guitarist, hammered dulcimer player, fiddler, and “seven-time Grammy loser”
• visits to the Homestead National Monument Heritage Center and Freeman (one-room) School

And all without charge. We even received free harmonicas.

While in Beatrice we enjoyed camping at Chautauqua Park (a city facility), which has concrete pads, full utilities, and no crowding even on Memorial Day Weekend.

A Little Quiz

1. When was the era of the Wild West (cowboys, cattle drives, and lawlessness), which has been so romanticized in movies and television?
2. What invention helped bring an end to the Wild West?
3. What percent of homesteaders “proved up” to gain ownership of the land they settled?
4. Where and when was the last homestead started?
5. Which President signed the Homestead Act?
6. Students at Freeman School studied orthography. What's that?

Willa Cather (Betty Jean Steinshouer) and Mark Twain (Warren Brown)

Quiz Answers

1. 1865-1895
2. barbed wire
3. 40%
4. Alaska, 1987
5. Abraham Lincoln
6. spelling and how letters are combined to make sounds and words