Living History ExtravaganzaAround Labor Day every year, Homestead National Historical Park brings in living history demonstrators to provide a unique perspective to visitors interested in the homesteading experience.On Saturday, September 5, 2026, our Living History Extravaganza wil be held at the Homestead Heritage Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free activities, demonstrations, and performances will begin at 10 a.m. with members of the Blue Valley Antique Club using vintage farm equipment to disk and drill the Heritage Center's demonstration field. At 11 a.m. Offutt Brass, the brass ensemble of the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band, will perform. Comprised of two trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba, and percussion, the ensemble performs a diverse repertoire of classical selections, patriotic favorites, jazz, popular music, new compositions, and distinctive arrangements. At noon, historical interpreter Steven Edenbo will portray Thomas Jefferson and explore the ideas that shaped the nation's founding and later influenced the Homestead Act. A Thomas Jefferson interpreter since 1999, Edenbo has spent more than two decades researching and portraying the third president. His work has appeared in numerous History Channel and PBS documentaries, including the six-part History Channel documentary Thomas Jefferson, and he regularly portrays Jefferson at historic sites such as the National Archives and Independence Hall. At 1 p.m., Darrel Draper will present the story behind the Statue of Liberty's journey to America. Originally intended as a gift from France to commemorate the centennial of American independence, the monument's path to the United States proved far more complicated than anticipated. The program examines the challenges France faced in presenting the statue, the people involved in its creation, the ten-year delay before its dedication, and the evolution of its meaning to Americans. The presentation also explores the Statue of Liberty's connection to homesteading, as many immigrants first encountered the monument upon arriving in the United States before claiming land under the Homestead Act. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy sewing and spinning demonstrations, make button toys and cornhusk dolls, and participate in other hands-on activities that reflect daily life on a homestead. Previous demonstrators include:
Old-Fashioned Spelling BeeYouth and their adults are invited to demonstrate their academic prowess at Homestead National Historical Park's yearly Labor Day spelling bee event.Prizes are available for winners in the following categories:
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Last updated: August 29, 2026