NPS Photo The Homestead Act became the law of the land on January 1, 1863. it remained in effect until 1976, when the Federal Land Policy and Management Act repealed it (though a ten year extension through 1986 was authorized in Alaska). Over the entire 124-year history of the Homestead Act, four million people filed for 160-acre parcels of the public domain. Of these four million, more than half were successful, fulfilling all the requirements of the government and earning the title to their property. Every single one of these four million, regardless of success or failure, had a personal story. Homestead National Historical Park exists today to tell those stories and commemorate the accomplishments and memories of all homesteaders. The Park is currently involved in a project to identify well-known figures in American history that have or had personal connections to the Homestead Act. Some of those identified thus far include: Willa Cather (author); George Washington Carver (scientist, educator); Virgil Earp (frontier lawman); Jeannette Rankin (first woman elected to congress); Laura Ingalls Wilder (author); and Lawrence Welk (entertainer). Each of these people was touched by the Homestead Act and made significant contributions to the world in which he or she lived. Through a generous grant from the Gage County Foundation, banners have been produced featuring each of these individuals. The banners hang outside the Education Center at the Park. Links to the stories of some prominent descendents of homesteaders can be found below. If you are a descendant of someone who filed on a homestead you story is important too, go here to learn more about telling your story. Photo Gallery Homestead Legacy Banners24 Images Over the entire 124-year history of the Homestead Act, four million people filed for 160-acre parcels of the public domain. Each of these people was touched by the Homestead Act and made significant contributions to the world in which he or she lived. Through a generous grant from the Gage County Foundation, Banners have been produced featuring each of these individuals. The banners hang outside the Education Center at the Park. 
NPS Photo Rachel Bella Calof 
NPS Photo George Washington Carver 
NPS Photo Willa Cather 
NPS Photo Kenneth Deardorff 
NPS Photo Ivan Doig 
NPS Photo Virgil Earp 
NPS Photo Whoopi Goldberg 
NPS Photo Amy Heidemann 
NPS Photo John Hubbell 
NPS Photo Chet Huntley 
NPS Photo Jewel Kilcher 
NPS Photo Mayor, Member of Congress, Director of Small Busness Administration, Secretary of the Interior (Ford Administration), Son of Homesteaders 
NPS Photo Walter Knott 
NPS Photo William McKnight 
NPS Photo Enos Mills 
NPS Photo Forest Ray Moulton 
NPS Photo Bill Nelson 
NPS Photo Al Neuharth 
NPS Photo Tom Osborne
NPS Photo Steve Owen 
NPS Photo Jeannette Rankin 
NPS Photo Evelyn Sharp 
NPS Photo Wa gi ma wub 
NPS Photo Lawrence Welk 
NPS Photo Laura Ingalls Wilder 
NPS Charles Lindbergh
Aviator, Grandson of Homesteaders 1902-1974 Detroit, Michigan |
Last updated: August 22, 2021