Freeman School to be Closed for Repairs at Homestead National Monument of America

Date: June 25, 2015

Beginning Monday, June 29, 2015, the Freeman School at Homestead National Monument of America will be closed to complete repairs for approximately a month. The floor boards in the school have warped, creating a tripping hazard. Repair work will include a complete removal and replacement of the flooring. 

The brick, one-room schoolhouse known as the Freeman School sits on its original site in Section 22, Township 4, Range 5.Built in 1871, it is one of the oldest one-room schoolhouses in Nebraska.School was one of the key institutions of the homesteader's frontier.Not only were schools used for teaching children, they were often the hub of social and political activity in the community.Freeman School served as a church in its early years and a polling place throughout its history.

While access will not be permitted to the interior of the Freeman School during this time, you are free to visit the grounds, look in the windows and watch historic preservation in progress. Part of the mission of the National Park Service is topreserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. In preserving cultural resources, including historic structures like the Freeman School, the National Park Service follows theSecretary of the Interior's Standards. The Standards are a series of concepts about maintaining, repairing, and replacing historic materials. Each Standard has Guidelines that offer general design and technical recommendations to assist in applying the Standards to a specific property. Federal agencies use the Standards and Guidelines in carrying out their historic preservation responsibilities.

Remember, Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2015. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM), Facebook (HomesteadNM), and Instagram (HomesteadNPS).

Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska and 45 miles south of Lincoln. Hours of operation are8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.daily. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit https://www.nps.gov/home/.

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