National Historical Park

Homestead National Historical Park

Midwest

About Homestead

The Homestead Act of 1862 transformed the world. Millions were invited to file claims including families, women, immigrants, and formerly enslaved people. Over 10 percent of the United States was homesteaded! The land, long inhabited by indigenous cultures, changed forever. Homesteaders created settlements and farms, drove industrial advancement, and built our nation chasing the American Dream.

From the National Park Service.

Region: Midwest
State: Nebraska
Designation: National Historical Park
Entrance fee: None listed

Trail data for this park is still being added.
Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Homestead.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

Trails and Grounds

Mon: Sunrise to Sunset
Tue: Sunrise to Sunset
Wed: Sunrise to Sunset
Thu: Sunrise to Sunset
Fri: Sunrise to Sunset
Sat: Sunrise to Sunset
Sun: Sunrise to Sunset

Trails and park grounds are open from sunrise to sunset. Picnic areas are available at the Education Center and Heritage Center. There are a total of 3.0 miles of trails through the tallgrass prairie and woodland.

Weather and when to go

Homestead NHP's weather can vary quite a bit, even in a single day. In the summer, average daytime highs can exceed 80°F (27°C), only to drop 20 or more degrees when a thunderstorm rolls through. Winter lows fluctuate day to day and year to year, but average lows were measured at about 16°F (-9°C) for January and February over a 20-year period. Wind is common throughout the year.

Getting there

The park is 4 miles west of Beatrice on State Highway 4. From the U.S. 77 and U.S. 136 intersection in downtown Beatrice take U.S. 136 approximately 1.2 miles west. Turn right onto Nebraska Highway 4 and follow the signs. After the road has curved west and you have traveled 4 miles, you will enter Homestead National Historical Park and see signs for the different buildings at the park.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: 8523 West State Highway 4, Beatrice, NE 68310
Phone: (402) 223-3514
Email: home_information@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/home

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Homestead

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Homestead

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Walk Nature Trails at Homestead

Hiking · about 2 hours

Homestead National Historical Park offers over three miles of trails through the sweeping tallgrass prairie and quiet bur oak woodland for hiking, cross-country skiing, and nature…
Research Family History

Hands-On · about 45 min

Research the digitized homestead and genealogical records at Homestead National Historical Park.
Follow the Quilt Discovery Experience

Self-Guided Tours - Walking · about 45 min

Follow the trail to learn more about quilt making and the history of quilts and how they truly are documents of history, reflecting who we were as a nation and a people. While som…
Watch Land of Dreams Film

Park Film · about 25 min

Watch the 23-minute film Land of Dreams: Homesteading America
Discover More at the Homestead Education Center

Hands-On · about 45 min

The Homestead Education Center provides you the opportunity further your knowledge about homesteading through hands-on arts and crafts, living history demonstrations, real life sc…
View Wildlife at the Prairie Plaza

Picnicking · about 45 min

Homestead's prairie plaza is the perfect spot to picnic and view wildlife.
Get Started at the Homestead Heritage Center

Museum Exhibits · about 1 hour

This multipurpose facility brings the epic homestead story to life for visitors of all ages and demonstrates the true scope and importance of the Homestead Act of 1862.
Explore the Museum Exhibits

Museum Exhibits · about 40 min

Learn about the Homestead Act of 1862 and the impacts it had around the world.