On August 30, 2012 on our way to see Mount Rushmore we stopped at our 15th park in the 10th State, Homestead National Monument in Beatrice, NE.  http://www.nps.gov/home/index.htm

The Homestead Act of 1862 gave away FREE LAND

There was 270,000,000 acres given away in 30 states.  This cutout in each state along this wall shows where the free land was in those 30 states.

 The cutout section show the land in Kansas that was given away under the Homestead Act

The cutout section shows the land in Missouri that was given away under the Homestead Act

Did you know the last land was given away in 1985!!!  in Alaska.

The Palmers whose family grew to 12 lived in this cabin for 15 years.

This is the cabin that the Palmers live in.... 12 people for 15 years!!

Although today, the park is picturesque you learn of the dreadful hardships the settlers endured

We learned a lot in this park and it is very well done.  From here we rode I-80 all the way across the State of Nebraska.  There was beauty to behold especially in the sand hills, but it got very hot and boring.  Melissa said she saw glimpses of the "ELEPHANT".  I will explain that later.