Footprints of the Lives of the Female Homesteader

Christopher Albrecht, Teacher-Ranger-Teacher, points to one of the stops along the trail

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2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. The Homestead Act of 1862 granted land claims in thirty states. Fifteen states and territories granted women the right to vote before the 19th Amendment. Fourteen of them were heavily homesteaded.

Under the Homestead Act, the head of the household, whether man or woman, could file a claim. New insights on the Homestead Act 1862 are shedding light on the lives of female homesteaders.

What was it like to be a female homesteader?

Most of the published documentation about life on a homestead is from a male perspective. Yet there is a large amount of primary documentation about the diverse daily lives of females.

Visitors to Homestead National Monument of America have a new opportunity to learn about this important part of American history. Christopher Albrecht is the summer of 2020 Teacher-Ranger-Teacher at Homestead National Monument. One of the projects he worked on was to create a self-guided outdoor trail experience at the park. Visitors are provided with free mini booklets at the visitor centers. There are twenty-five booklets, each tells the story of a woman's experience on a homestead. The booklets are split into in four parts that are read at stops denoted by footprint signs and guided by a map.

Booklets and a trail map for the program are available at both Visitor Centers.

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According to Albrecht, “Finding personal accounts from female homesteaders is not easy work. To locate oral histories housed in archives, personal collections, institutions, magazines and books is labor intensive work. However, now that we have gathered twenty-five different stories told in the first-person, it brings to life a greater understanding that allows all people to feel the diverse experiences of female homesteaders. Emotions ranged from depression to joy, and with a success rate under 50%, homesteaders faced many challenges out of their control. Creating a farm from scratch is labor intensive and mentally challenging. With little time to write, oral histories taken years after a homestead was developed were more common to find than written first person accounts. This project also had to rely on what was already documented because all early homesteaders are deceased.”

An employee presents the map and booklet to individuals visiting Homestead National Monument.

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This activity uses outdoor destinations near park buildings and on the prairie trails. Albrecht continued, “When groups arrive, each person in the group is given a different account by a female homesteader, and the hope is that people will talk on their walk from location to location within the park.” Seven locations were chosen in the park as reading areas, denoted by footprint signs. Free booklets are available at the Homestead Education Center and the Heritage Center.

The health and safety of those who visit and work in national parks continues to be paramount, which is why we ask visitors to be our partner in adopting social distancing practices. The CDC has offered guidance to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases while enjoying the outdoors. We encourage you to follow CDC guidance: 

• Practice social distancing. Maintain at least 6 feet of distance between you and others.  

• Wear a face covering when social distancing cannot be maintained.  

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.  

• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.  

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.  

• If you feel sick, please visit another day.  

Learn more about the NPS Recreate Responsibly campaign, which provides information about best practices to keep visitors, staff, and park resources safe while limiting the spread of COVID-19.