Nebraska Department of Economic Development

Governor Heineman presents award to Superintendent Engler and Chief Ranger Baughman

2007 Tourism Award

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman announced the winners of the 2007 Nebraska Travel Industry awards at the Nebraska Travel Conference banquet on October 18. Homestead National Monument of America’s new Heritage Center was named the Outstanding Tourism Attraction for 2007. Superintendent Mark Engler and Chief Ranger Merrith Baughman accepted the award on behalf of the National Park Service.

The Heritage Center has also received two other awards.

Rising Star Award

The Homestead National Monument of America's new Heritage Center was presented the latest “Rising Star Award” recently by the NEBRASKALand Foundation.

The foundation's special award was created to recognize outstanding tourism attractions, public or private, which have made a significant expansion to an existing attraction or established a new one.

Design Award

In 2005 GWWO, Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland received a Design Award from the American Institute of Architects for their design of the Heritage Center. In choosing the Heritage Center dsign for an award the selection committe said “The roof surface peeling off the ground plane is a wonderfully symbolic commemoration of what it means to homestead. This strong, emerging idea retains the prairie landscape, while the excellent site plan creates a square, one-acre parking lot, referring to 1/160th of the original plot granted by the Homestead Act 140 years ago.”