Homestead National Monument celebrates 40th annual Homestead Days

This weekend marked the 40th annual “Homestead Days” at Homestead National Monument near Beatrice.

The annual homestead days event features the demonstration of the homesteader lifestyle and crafts.

“We call ‘arts and crafts’ today, but it was a part of daily life. If you didn’t quilt, you didn’t have a blanket in the winter. If you didn’t make it, you didn’t have it,” National Park Chief Ranger, Susan Cook said. 

It had several musical guests and performances.

Visitors tried their hand at corn grinding, spinning, woodworking, and even got to learn wagon wheel making.

“The different things you can make, there’s gentlemen that are making socks and just the techniques into those. You see sewing, you see knitting, all the different talents that people have that really show off what homesteaders did,” park visitor Diana Welsh said. 

Diana Welsh and her family are returners to the event. They say their family has resided in the great plains since the 1870s and their homestead lineage dates back to Massachusetts settlers of the 1600s.

“We’re dressed in 1860s. My mom here, she’s dressed in 1890s and so our display inside kind of shows that whole range of clothing, which is a lot of fun to kind of see how it transitions with each decade,” Welsh said. 

The event teaches people about the effects of the 1862 homestead act, which allowed any world emigrant an offer for a plot of U.S. soil, in exchange for U.S. citizenship.

In return, the many cultures that make the U.S. today started here in Nebraska within the homestead.

“Appreciating what those pioneers did, their way of life and all the hard work they did is making it better for us to have our way of life today. They kind of set the stage for us,” Cook said.

Local Nebraskan Noel Ditmas even brings antique toys for the children to enjoy and learn about the era.

“I think it’s useful for people to know, particularly the younger folks, how folks used to live and how much work things used to be,” Ditmas said. “I grew up a country boy and I still like to play with my farmer toys.”

The Homestead National Monument represents the 4 million people from 1862 to 1936 who filed claims in 30 states over 123 years.

From 1 to 5 this Sunday, Homestead National Monument will be continuing with world music and dance performances.