The Mosaic of Homesteader Backgrounds

The National Park Service is committed to telling the history of all Americans in all of its complexity. Explore the many different demographics of people who homesteaded across the United States.


More content will be added as more stories are researched.
 
  • 6 members of the Williams family of Nicodemus, KS.
    Black Homesteaders

    Homesteaders included formerly enslaved people, black people born as free citizens, and black immigrants.

  • Person standing next to Homestead National Monument of America building sign
    Latin Homesteaders

    Learn about some of the Latinx people who homesteaded, especially in the Southwestern states.

  • Portrait of Dr. Marie Equi
    LGBTQ Homesteaders

    Though many more homesteaders may have identified with one of the groups now represented in the LGBTQ community, we only know of some.

  • Immigrants waiting to be transferred, Ellis Island
    Immigrant Homesteaders

    The Homestead Act was encouraged people to come to the United States while providing the requirements for citizenship

  • Portrait of an older man in a Civil War uniform
    Veteran Homesteaders

    Many homesteaders were veterans from the first homesteader to the last.

  • Suffragist holds torch over Western states where women can vote beckoning the struggling women in Ea
    Women Homesteaders

    Explore the stories of women homesteaders across the United States.

Last updated: December 4, 2022

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