News Release

NPS/Robert Hartwig
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Contact: Amy Genke, (402) 223-3514
BEATRICE, Neb. – This year’s film festival kicks off at the Education Center on Saturday, January 4 at 2 p.m. with Episode 1 of Ken Burns’ film The West!
The nine-part series will be shown over the next 9 weekends and the film chronicles the turbulent history of one of the most extraordinary landscapes on Earth. Beginning when the land belonged only to Native Americans and ending in the 20th century, the film introduces unforgettable characters whose competing dreams transformed the land. It was a tragic, inspiring intersection where the best of us met the worst of us — and nothing was left unchanged. Packed with vivid imagery and personalities, The West reveals the triumph and tragedy of America's drive to become a continental nation.
- January 4 and 5 – Episode 1: The People
- January 11 and 12 – Episode 2: Empire Upon the Trails
- January 18 and 19 – Episode 3: Speck of the Future
- January 25 and 26 – Episode 4: Death Runs Riot
- February 1 and 2 – Episode 5: The Grandest Enterprise Under God
- February 8 and 9 – Episode 6: Fight No More Forever
- February 15 and 16 – Episode 7: The Geography of Hope
- February 22 and 23 – Episode 8: Ghost Dance
- March 1 and 2 – Episode 9: One Sky Above Us
All showings will be at 2 p.m. at the Education Center.
For more information on available accommodations please contact Accessibility Coordinator, Amber Kirkendall at (402) 223-3514.
Homestead National Historical Park is a unit of the National Park Service, located four miles west of Beatrice, NE. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is free! For more information, please call (402) 223-3514, or visit http://www.nps.gov/home.
Remember, Homestead National Historical Park has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2025. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNHP) and Facebook (Homestead National Historical Park).
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ 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, X, and YouTube.
Last updated: January 2, 2025