HOMESTEAD NATIONAL MONUMENT OF AMERICA AND THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOMESTEAD ACT

Homestead National Monument of America is a National Park Service site dedicated to sharing the history of the Homestead Act of 1862. Most visitors to the monument vaguely remember learning that the federal government once gave settlers free land in the West, and they are surprised to learn the importance of this legislation to the history of the United States and its impact on millions of lives. The agricultural revolution that ensued spurred more sophisticated transportation systems, communication networks, and educational opportunities. Although the history can be complicated, often contradicting, and at times frustrating, it is never boring.