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The Roots Beneath Your Feet - The Homestead Act of 1862

Join us for a FREE virtual program on Oct. 3 at 2:30 pm EST!

This program gives a focused look on doing genealogical research with land records of those who settled in the United States under the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed individuals to claim 160 acres of American public domain land for free, as long as they lived and farmed on it for five years. From 1863 through 1986, millions of individuals from across the world staked their claim to “the American Dream” under this law.

Because of the requirements to file claims, extensive records including vital records, immigration records, military service records, and legal records were kept for every single one of these homestead claims. This session will teach attendees about the role the Homestead Act played in immigration, provide information about ethnic and religious homesteading settlement communities, and how to find and utilize Homestead Land Entry Case files and the General Land Office Records. The program will explore records and sources to contextualize group settlement and promote cluster research of rural communities, including the General Land Office Records, Homestead Land Entry Case Files, and Tract Books.

This program teaches how to research using land records tied to the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed individuals to claim 160 acres of American public domain land for free. From 1863 through 1986, millions of individuals from across the world staked their claim to “the American Dream” under this law.

Jonathan Fairchild the Historian at Homestead National Historical Park, located in Beatrice, Nebraska. His responsibilities as Historian for the National Park Service include providing research and reference assistance, preserving and protecting park cultural resources, and interpreting the significance of the Homestead Act on United States history.

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