News Release

Homestead National Historical Park to host a Living History Extravaganza

Date: August 14, 2024
Contact: Amber Kirkendall, 402-223-3514

BEATRICE, Neb. – It’s a Living History Extravaganza! Experience history at Homestead National Historical Park’s Heritage Center on Saturday, August 31, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Historic chore demonstrations and crafts will be led by volunteers. Hands-on crafts will include button toys, spinning, and cornhusk dolls. Starting at 10 a.m., Blue Valley Antique Club members will disk and drill the Heritage Center’s demonstration field with historic farm equipment. This demonstration of historic equipment will plant the field with winter wheat.

At 11 a.m., Dr. Taylor Keen will perform as Big Elk or Ongpatonga. Dr. Keen is a direct descendent of Big Elk. Big Elk was a chief of the Omaha Tribe in the early 1800’s, during a time of increasing changes, with threats from tribal warfare, disease, and European-American encroachment. At 1 p.m., Paul Siebert will perform a musical living history program of a family’s journey from Russia to Nebraska in the 1870’s. Siebert will use original and period music with up to seven different acoustic instruments, storytelling, personal family history, and period costume.

For more information, contact Homestead National Park at [phone]. For more information on available accommodations please contact Accessibility Coordinator, Amber Kirkendall at [phone].

Remember, Homestead National Historical Park has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2024. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNHP) and Facebook (Homestead National Historical Park).

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 431 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.