About Homestead National Historical Park
Homestead National Historical Park, near Beatrice, Nebraska, commemorates the Homestead Act of 1862 and its far-reaching impact on the United States. Administered by the National Park Service, the park interprets how a single law transformed the nation by inviting millions of people to file claims for free land, including families, women, immigrants, and formerly enslaved people.
The Homestead Act ultimately led to more than ten percent of the United States being homesteaded. The park tells both sides of that story: the migration, risk-taking, labor, sacrifice, and courage of the homesteaders who built settlements and farms, and the profound and permanent changes the act brought to lands long inhabited by Indigenous cultures.
Things to See and Do
The park preserves historic structures and offers resources that connect visitors to the homesteading era, including:
- The Palmer-Epard Cabin, a homestead-era dwelling that illustrates daily frontier life.
- The Freeman School, a preserved one-room schoolhouse on the park grounds.
- Access to Homestead Land Records and Land Entry Record case files for genealogical and historical research.
- Educational videos, Junior Ranger activities, and a repository of submitted homestead stories.
Planning Your Visit
The park is located at 8523 West State Highway 4, Beatrice, NE 68310, and can be reached by phone at 402-223-3514. It offers special events, educational programming, and activities for visitors of all ages throughout the year. For current hours, maps, fees, and event details, visit the official website at nps.gov/home.
Explore Nebraska's Historical Landscape
Use the When It Was app to discover historical businesses, landmarks, and buildings throughout Nebraska. See how your community has transformed over the decades.
Explore When It Was →