“Reopening the Frontier: Homesteading in the Modern West" author, Brian Cannon, speaks at Homestead National Monument of America
Historian Brian Cannon will present and sign copies of his book “Reopening the Frontier: Homesteading in the Modern West." This program will take place at the Homestead Education Center on Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m.
Between 1946 and 1966, the Bureau of Reclamation opened up over 3,000 farms on irrigated public lands in the West to returning servicemen. Although involving fewer people than those flocking to western cities, this mini-land rush represents an important continuity in western tradition through the cultivation of values-hard work, security, independence, family stability-long associated with frontier life. Cannon examines these new agricultural settlements and the values they reflected and reinforced, following them through the end of the twentieth century and exploring specific key homesteading and federal reclamation projects.
Cannon describes how the Bureau of Reclamation used lotteries to make available free land that had previously been part of Indian reservations, used for Japanese internment, or abandoned by unsuccessful settlers. He then traces the new homesteaders' experiences in establishing a farm, "proving up," and gaining title to the land, contrasting the realities of modern homesteading with iconic views of the frontier.
“The Homestead Act remained in effect until 1976 in the lower 48 states and in Alaska until 1986," Superintendent Mark Engler said. “This later period of the Homestead Act, post-World War II, is often overlooked and we are pleased to host Brian and share this part of the homesteading story."
Remember, Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2019. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM) and Facebook (HomesteadNM).
Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska and 45 miles south of Lincoln. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit http://www.nps.gov/home/.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
