Et cetera : The Homestead National Monument of America

By Kyle White and Katie Keane

Cedar Three of the AmeriCorps NCCC is in Beatrice, Nebraska to help support the Homestead National Monument of America (Homestead NMA) for the first time in NCCC history. The Homestead NMA is celebrating their 150 anniversary of the initial signing on May 20, 1862. This project is an opportunity for AmeriCorps NCCC to create a partnership with the National Monument for future years to come. The monument was established May 19, 1936 to ensure America’s homestead story was kept alive.

Cedar Three is assisting the Homestead NMA with tours and visitor services in order to prepare for the celebration. A plethora of school students ranging from the grades K-12 are taking field trips out to the monument grounds to get a better picture of what the Homestead Act actually accomplished and how their ancestors benefited due to the signing of the act. Cedar Three is alongside the park rangers during these tours helping tutor the young minds as well as learning the historical information themselves.

The team is enthusiastic about this opportunity to work with the Homestead National Monument of America during such an inspirational time in history and to help enlighten the future homesteaders of America.

“Attacking invasive species (Musk Thistles) on the 140 acre prairie for the Homestead NMA”