Welcome to Homestead National Monument...
The outside of the building resembles a plow...
Uncle Scotty and Aunty Lynette outside the Heritage Center...
Wonder what the old pioneers would think of the technology of today.
The Homestead Act of 1862 opened millions of acres of land
for those in pursuit of the American Dream...
The Homestead Act claimed that any American citizen or intended citizen could claim 160 acres. The photo above is 160 acres of prairie land, much like what some of the new settlers would have claimed. The claimant agreed to improve the land by placing a dwelling and growing crops. After 5 years if the claimant complied and were still on the land they were given a deed to the land by the US government. Only about 1/2 of the settlers were successful. Life on the Prairie was much more difficult than thought.
The cut out area inside the state of Nebraska depicts how much of Nebraska land
was claimed by "Homesteaders"
30 states were involved in the Homestead Act of 1862.
Many women came alone...
Are you a Homestead Descendant??
Inside the Heritage Center
Your little House on the Prairie may have looked like this...
your children may have played with these toys...
Your meals may have been served right here.
A view from your kitchen window.
All of this just 150 years ago!!
Another shot of the Heritage Center
A view of the Prairie from inside the Heritage Center.
I wonder if I would have made it...through the droughts, the bugs, the hardships.
The Pioneers...we owe them so much!!
The Homestead National Monument is located just 4 miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska
For more information click Homestead Monument
Yay for the pioneers!! I sure don't know how they did it! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Val, I love this-thank you for sharing it. I can't imagine how incredibly difficult life was as a pioneer. There is a new show on t.v. where three current day families drove across the plains in covered wagons, built log homes and have to live like the pioneers did. Eeck-I never would have survived. Glad you are having such fun with your friends. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Noreen
i don't think i would have had the fortitude to make it.
ReplyDeleteThe Little House books were always some of my favorites, yes they did endure hardships. I'm not sure I could have done it.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I would have lacked sufficient 'intestinal fortitude'.
ReplyDeleteCool Post. WE never guessed how tough it must have been.
ReplyDeleteit is hard to beleive now that there was so much available and not enough people to populate it so they gave it away. now we are stuffed in towns and cities like sardines in cans. this is really interesting to me and i like the simple much better than what we have now but i would NOT want to go without electric or gadgets or AC/Heat and i do know to live like this looks simple now but worked the people down to early death from so much hard work. thanks for taking us back in time
ReplyDeleteBrave and hearty souls!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great series and you got some good shots. Women owning land, who'd have thought? LOL
ReplyDelete