• Homestead Heritage Center & Prairie

    Homestead

    National Monument of America Nebraska

Living Wall

Living Wall

Living Wall

Homestead NM

As visitors walk from the parking lot to the Heritage Center they pass the "Living Wall," a visual representaiton of the percentage of land in each state that was successfully homesteaded. Homesteaders claimed land from the "public domain." When the Homestead Act was passed in 1862 there were many states where most of the public land or "public domain" had already been sold to settlers. In 1862 most of the "public domain" was in states west of the Mississippi, but there was some public land in some of the states east of the Mississippi. Therefore, eventually there were successful homesteaders in 30 states. Each of these 30 states is represented in the "Living Wall." In the photo album below the "cut out" in each state represents the percentage of land in the state that was successfully homesteaded. Go here for more information.
 

  • Find Land & Genealogy Records Find Land & Genealogy Records

    Go to Genealogy Page Read More

  • Things To Do At The Park Things To Do At The Park

    Go back in time, explore nature, attend a special event Read More

  • Special Events Special Events

    Special events are a fun way for the whole family to learn about history, nature and the arts! Read More

  • Which States were settled by Homesteading? Which States were settled by Homesteading?

    Map of Homesteading States Read More

Did You Know?

Homesteaders in front of sod house

The Homestead Act of 1862, which gave away 160 acre claims, was repealed in the lower 48 states in 1976. In Alaska, claims could be filed up to 1986!
  -- Homestead National Monument of America More...