Celebrate 78th Birthday of
Homestead National Monument of America
Join the staff of Homestead National Monument of America in celebrating the park’s 78th birthday. Come have coffee and rolls on March 19, 2014, from 8:00-10 a.m. at Homestead National Monument of America’s Education Center. Homestead National Monument of America was designated as a National Park Service site on March 19, 1936.
With one stroke of the pen on March 19, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created a new national park on the site of the Daniel Freeman homestead. The following words were included in the legislation: "...lay out said land in a suitable and enduring manner so that the same may be maintained as an appropriate monument to retain for posterity a proper memorial emblematical of the hardships and the pioneer life through which the early settlers passed in the settlement, cultivation and civilization of the Great West."
“It is fitting for the public to join in celebrating the birthday of this national park site. It was the work of the public that led to the creation of this site. It is this legislation that leads today’s park staff in planning all events and programs,” stated Superintendent Mark Engler.
Extensive work went on behind the scenes for nearly 30 years to see that this site would be created. As early as 1909, concerned citizens of Nebraska had urged Congress to create a national park site on the Freeman property, the location of one of the very first land parcels claimed under the Homestead Act on January 1, 1863. However, it wasn't until 1925 that Senator George W. Norris, a powerful congressional leader from Nebraska, joined the fight to see the Freeman land preserved as a national park.
In 1934, the Homestead National Park Association was formed by several prominent Beatrice citizens. It was at this point that the movement to create the park began to solidify. Senator Norris had a proposal for the creation of the national park site before the U.S. House of Representatives by August, 1935. The Homestead National Monument Act was passed on March 19, 1936, becoming Public Law 480, 74th Congress. The newly-created Homestead National Monument of America was placed under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior. The National Park Service continues to operate and administer the park today as a lasting memorial to all the settlers who built the American West.
Remember, Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2014. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM) and Facebook (HomesteadNM).
Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska and 45 miles south of Lincoln. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit http://www.nps.gov/home/.
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
Date and Time
Wednesday Mar 19, 2014
