History and Culture
NPS Pioneers and Covered Wagon It is the purpose of our government "to elevate the condition of men, to lift artificial burdens from all shoulders and to give everyone an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life." President Abraham Lincoln, July 4, 1861. 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 of free land to claimants, it allowed nearly any man or woman a "fair chance." Homestead National Monument of America, located in Southeast Nebraska, commemorates this Act and the far-reaching effects it had upon the landscape and people. The Bureau of Land Management has also created a website to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act. To visit it, click here. To learn more examine the pages below [those labeled PDF require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view].
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Did You Know?
Under the Homestead Act, 270 million acres of land, or 10% of the nation, was given away. The only monetary payment for each 160 acre claim was an $18 filing fee.
-- Homestead National Monument of America
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