Homestead National Historical Park
The Homestead Act of 1862 transformed the world.
Photo: NPS Photo/Hunter Hendricks / NPS
About Homestead National Historical Park
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.
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Driving times from Homestead National Historical Park, one way, via road — a realistic day is 8–10 hours behind the wheel.
Hours
Trails and Grounds
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Activities
Getting there
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.
Frequently asked questions
- What is there to do at Homestead National Historical Park?
- Popular activities include Arts and Culture, Birdwatching, Compass and GPS, Food, Geocaching, Guided Tours.
- Which national parks are within a day's drive of Homestead National Historical Park?
- Within about a day's drive you can reach Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail (1 h 48 min), Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park (2 h 27 min), Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (3 h 3 min), Harry S Truman National Historic Site (3 h 24 min), Nicodemus National Historic Site (3 h 28 min), Missouri National Recreational River (4 h 2 min).