Homestead National Historical Park
Designation: National Historical Park
Location: Nebraska
📘 Park Overview
The Homestead Act of 1862 transformed the world. Millions were invited to file claims including families, women, immigrants, and formerly enslaved people. Over 10 percent of the United States was homesteaded! The land, long inhabited by indigenous cultures, changed forever. Homesteaders created settlements and farms, drove industrial advancement, and built our nation chasing the American Dream.
🌤 Weather Information
Homestead NHP's weather can vary quite a bit, even in a single day. In the summer, average daytime highs can exceed 80°F (27°C), only to drop 20 or more degrees when a thunderstorm rolls through. Winter lows fluctuate day to day and year to year, but average lows were measured at about 16°F (-9°C) for January and February over a 20-year period. Wind is common throughout the year.
🚗 Directions
The park is 4 miles west of Beatrice on State Highway 4. From the U.S. 77 and U.S. 136 intersection in downtown Beatrice take U.S. 136 approximately 1.2 miles west. Turn right onto Nebraska Highway 4 and follow the signs. After the road has curved west and you have traveled 4 miles, you will enter Homestead National Historical Park and see signs for the different buildings at the park.
Images
The Palmer Epard Cabin and Heritage Center at Sunset
Credit: NPS Photo/Hunter Hendricks
An original one-room schoolhouse, the Freeman School preserves educational history and allows for visitors of all ages to walk into history.
Credit: Homestead National Monument of America
The overlook from the picnic area at the Heritage Center showcases the beauty of the tallgrass prairie in late summer.
Thousands of visitors stop to view the oldest restored tallgrass prairie in the National Park Service from the Heritage Center back patio.
Credit: Mel Mann, artist in residence of Homestead National Monument of America
The oldest restored tallgrass prairie in the NPS spans to the Heritage Center.
Credit: Mel Mann
The Homestead Education Center holds historic farm implements from the vast archives and collections of the Monument.
Credit: Homestead National Monument of America
The historic homestead cabin that can be found on the America the Beautiful Homestead Quarter, this cabin has been preserved in it's original condition for visitors to enter and see the inside of a historic structure.
Credit: Homestead National Monument of America
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
No entrance fees listed.
Entrance Passes
No entrance passes listed.
3-Day Weather Forecast
Sunday, May 31
Patchy rain nearby
High: 84.5°F | Low: 66.6°F
Humidity: 79%
Wind: 18.8 mph
Rain Chance: 89%
UV Index: 6.8
Sunrise: 05:59 AM
Sunset: 08:50 PM
Moon: Full Moon (99%)
Visibility: 5 mi
Dew Point: 68.9°F
Cloud Cover: 89%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Monday, Jun 1
Sunny
High: 82.4°F | Low: 66.6°F
Humidity: 71%
Wind: 13.2 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 9.6
Sunrise: 05:59 AM
Sunset: 08:50 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (96%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 67.8°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Tuesday, Jun 2
Patchy rain nearby
High: 81°F | Low: 62.7°F
Humidity: 68%
Wind: 8.9 mph
Rain Chance: 85%
UV Index: 9.4
Sunrise: 05:59 AM
Sunset: 08:51 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (90%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 64.7°F
Cloud Cover: 85%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Park Alerts
Park Events
Kids in Parks Program
Kids in Parks programs are recurring events that occur every second Saturday of the month at 10 am.
Themes for the 2026 calendar year are as follows:
- January 10: Winter Critter Mystery
- February 14: Wool Spinning and Weaving
- March 14: Bird and their Homes
- April 11: Animal Adaptations
- May 9: Plant Walk and Activity
- June 13: Bats are Your Friend
- July 11: Picture Yourself in the Park
- August 8: Hunt or Hide? Animal Discovery
- September 12: Birds of Prey/Owl Pellet Investigation
- October 10: What’s Up with the Trees?
- November 14: Buffalo Trunk
- December 12: Gingerbread Cabin Construction
Location: Homestead National Historical Park's Education Center: 8523 West State Highway 4 Beatrice, NE 68310
Date: Jan 10, 2026 12:00am to Jan 10, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Ranger Program – Blizzard 1888
Ranger Program – Blizzard 1888
Location: Homestead National Historical Park's Education Center: 8523 West State Highway 4 Beatrice, NE 68310
Date: Jan 11, 2026 12:00am to Jan 11, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Read with a Ranger
Read with a Ranger events occur every third Saturday of the month at 10 am.
2026 dates are as follows:
- May 16 - Tractor Mac Arrives at the Farm by Billy Steers
- June 20
- July 18
- August 15
- September 19
- October 17
- November 21
- December 19
Location: Homestead National Historical Park's Education Center: 8523 West State Highway 4 Beatrice, NE 68310
Date: Jan 17, 2026 12:00am to Jan 17, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Film Festival: Celebrating America 250
Film Festival: Celebrating America 250
Event schedule:- January 17 and 18: “The Past and Present Here Unite,” by Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (LONG) followed by “Road of Necessity,” by Fort Necessity National Battlefield (FONE). Films will be introduced by park rangers from LONG and FONE.
- January 24 and 25: “In the Most Furious Manner,” by Moores Creek National Battlefield (MOCR) followed by “Military History, Themed Clip Reel,” by Ken Burns, The American Revolution. Films will be introduced by park rangers from MOCR.
- January 31 and February 1: “Orientation Film,” followed by “John Dickinson Plantation,” by First State National Historical Park. Films will be introduced by park rangers from Homestead National Historical Park.
- February 7 and 8: “Something More at Stake,” by Saratoga National Historical Park followed by “Revolutionary Youth, Themed Clip Reel,” by Ken Burns, The American Revolution. Films will be introduced by park rangers from Homestead National Historical Park.
- February 14 and 15: “Another Such Victory,” by Guilford Courthouse National Military Park followed by “Voices & Visions, Themed Clip Reel,” by Ken Burns, The American Revolution. Films will be introduced by park rangers from Homestead National Historical Park.
- February 21 and 22: “Fighting for Liberty, The Siege of Yorktown,” by Colonial National Historical Park (COLO) followed by “The Spirit of Service, Themed Clip Reel,” by Ken Burns, The American Revolution. Films will be introduced by park rangers from COLO.
*The same content planned for a weekend will show on both Saturday and Sunday. Each day of the Film Festival starts at 2pm.
Location: Homestead National Historical Park's Education Center: 8523 West State Highway 4 Beatrice, NE 68310
Date: Jan 17, 2026 12:00am to Jan 17, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Kids in Parks Program – Wool Spinning and Weaving
Kids in Parks Program – Wool Spinning and Weaving
Location: Homestead National Historical Park's Education Center: 8523 West State Highway 4 Beatrice, NE 68310
Date: Feb 14, 2026 12:00am to Feb 14, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Drop-in Volunteering – Pruning the Heritage Orchard
- February 20: Pruning the Heritage Orchard (1 pm start)
- March 20: Trail Sign Cleanup
- April 17: Garlic Mustard Removal
- May 15: Garlic Mustard Removal
- June 26: iNaturalist Wildflowers
- July 17: Water Quality
- August 21: iNaturalist Butterflies
- September 18: Candle Dipping
- October 16: Prairie Seed Harvest
Location: Homestead National Historical Park's Heritage Center: 24405 SW 75th Rd, Beatrice, NE 68310
Date: Feb 20, 2026 12:00am to Feb 20, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Read with a Ranger
Read with a Ranger
Location: Homestead National Historical Park's Education Center: 8523 West State Highway 4 Beatrice, NE 68310
Date: Feb 21, 2026 12:00am to Feb 21, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Star Party Program at the Heritage Center
Reach for the stars at Homestead National Historical Park
Attention star gazers of all ages! Come out to Homestead National Historical Park's Heritage Center on Saturday, February 28 at 7:00 pm and join us for a ranger-led astronomy activity. Everyone is encouraged to dress for the weather and bring binoculars or telescopes to view the night sky. There will be three telescopes at the park. In the event the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will have a kid-friendly indoor activity. And of course, the event is FREE!
The stars and constellations have been a source of awe and wonder for hundreds of years. Homestead life on the prairie was challenging, and after nightfall it could be terrifying. The night sky provided a source for storytelling, myths, and legends to calm the settlers and especially their children. What will the stars tell you?
Location: Homestead National Historical Park's Heritage Center: 24405 SW 75th Rd, Beatrice, NE 68310
Date: Feb 28, 2026 12:00am to Feb 28, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Walk with a Ranger
Walk with a Ranger events start at Homestead's Education Center and occur from March to November 2026 every first Wednesday of the month at 3 pm except in July. July's walk is scheduled for the second Wednesday of the month.
2026 dates are as follows:
- March 4
- April 1
- May 6
- June 3
- July 8
- August 5
- September 2
- October 7
- November 4
Location: Homestead National Historical Park's Education Center: 8523 West State Highway 4 Beatrice, NE 68310
Date: Mar 4, 2026 12:00am to Mar 4, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Ranger Program
2026 Ranger Programs start at 2 pm on Sundays.
Program dates are as follows:
- January 11
- March 8
- April 12
- May 10
- July 12
- August 9
- September 13
- October 11
- November 15
Location: Homestead National Historical Park's Education Center: 8523 West State Highway 4 Beatrice, NE 68310
Date: Mar 8, 2026 12:00am to Mar 8, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
8523 West State Highway 4
Beatrice, NE 68310
🏤 Mailing Address:
8523 West State Highway 4
Beatrice, NE 68310
📞 Voice Phone: 4022233514
✉️ Email: home_information@nps.gov