Near Beatrice in Gage County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Do You Live Near a Homestead?
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011
1. Do You Live Near a Homestead? Marker
There’s a good chance you do – Homesteading reached three of every five states. Is yours among them?
The Homestead Act of 1862 offered people 160 acres of free land – if they were willing to live on it, farm it, and build a home. This map shows the 30 homesteading states in which the government gave away 270 million acres. On the wall each state has a cutout that represents the proportion of homesteading land in that state. Can you see where homesteading was most important?
One hundred years ago the Congress passed the Homestead Act, probably the single greatest stimulus to national development ever enacted. Under the impetus of that Act and other laws, more than 1.1 billion acres…have been transferred to private and non-federal public ownership.
President John F. Kennedy, 1962
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Charity & Public Work • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #35 John F. Kennedy series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.
Location. 40° 17.143′ N, 96° 49.568′ W. Marker is near Beatrice, Nebraska
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Homestead Heritage Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Walk in Their Shoes (within shouting distance of this marker); Homesteading's Legacy is Written on the Land (within shouting distance of this marker); A Prairie Reborn (within shouting distance of this marker); Is All Barbed Wire the Same? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Daniel and Agnes Freeman (about 400 feet away); Close Quarters (about 400 feet away); Boundaries of Freedom (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beatrice.
Also see . . .
1. Homestead National Monument of America. (Submitted on September 24, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. The Homestead Act. Part of the 100 Milestone Documents series (Submitted on September 24, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Primary Documents in American History: Homestead Act. (Submitted on September 24, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011
2. Do You Live Near a Homestead? Marker
Photographed By National Park Service, undated
3. Do You Live Near a Homestead? Map on Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011
4. Homesteading Proportions of Nebraska & Kansas
Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 547 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 24, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
