Homestead of America National Monument

An (*) indicates that this is a priority project listed on the PMIS database

Influential to the westward expansion of the United States, the Homestead Act of 1862 granted 160 acres of free land to claimants.  The Act provided the opportunity for nearly any man or woman to live the American dream, and thus had a great effect on the landscape and people of the plains.  Located in Southeast Nebraska on the site of one of the first homesteads claimed, the Homestead National Monument of America (est. 1939) is a tribute to the accomplishments and memories of all homesteaders.  The monument consists of tallgrass prairie landscape, historic buildings and exhibits that tell the history of this important part of American history.

Riparian Woodlands & Shrub Edge

The riparian woodland within the Cub Creek landscape corridor composes approximately 60 acres of land cover within the monument.  The Prairie Cluster-LTEM group completed an inventory of forest plants in 2002.  A Nature Conservancy specialist classified the northern half of the wooded area as a Mesic Burr Oak forest type and the southern half was more representative of the Eastern Lowland forest type. 

• Develop ecologically sound management plan for the shrub edge (prairie-shrub and shrub-woodland)

• Develop a management plan for historic trees*

• Develop compliance, planning and implementation for woodlands project*

• Restore Native Prairie Remove Non-Historic Trees

• Restore Native Prairie Edge Management

Prairie Conservation and Restoration

The monument has worked to restore 100 acres to its original tallgrass prairie status and now maintains the second oldest restored prairie in the United States .  The prairie consists of lowland prairie, upland prairie, and native prairie remnants. 

• Comprehensive prairie study (to provide direction for modifications, in terms of diversity/health of species, edge treatment, fire management and adjacent land use)

• Collect, catalog, and preserve specimens of all prairie and deciduous forest plant species to update prairie vegetation inventory and complete herbarium

• Identify a cyclic prescribed fire program to deal with the prairie as a whole and for specific management units

• Investigate ways to control woody species encroaching on the prairie (include alternatives for fire resistant and suckering species)  

• Update Prairie Vegetation Inventory, Complete Herbarium

• Increasing Species Diversity Around New Heritage Center

Rehabilitation of the Historic Osage Orange Hedge

The Osage orange was introduced to the mid-west by early pioneers for use as a “hedge fence”.  Planted during the tenure of homesteader Dan iel Freeman, the Osage Orange hedge delineates the south boundary of the monument.  This hedgerow is on the List of Classified Structures and must be monitored and managed for continued successful growth.

• Determine original extent of hedge

Surface and Ground Water/ and Air Quality

Cub Creek flows through the park for approximately 2 miles.  Current monitoring efforts include collection of macroinvertebrates and volunteers monitor the physical and chemical perimeters of the water.  Little is known about the ground water.  Information is needed on the air quality because of the close proximity of two fertilizer plants and a new gas fired power plant.  

• Conduct baseline groundwater quality inventory

• Determine air quality by identifying specific pollutants and provide recommendations to mitigate the effects of pollutants on the natural and cultural resources of the park

• Conduct a hydrological study to investigate the relationship of Cub Creek to its watershed and adjacent areas to better understand periodic flooding and identify mitigation alternatives

• Identify historic channel configurations of Cub Creek

• Conduct multi-year assessment of possible trends in stream water quality using macroinvertebrate data

• Analyze water isotopes to determine impacts of burning in mesic burr oak forest*

• Monitor and Research Air Quality at HOME

• Prairie Maintenance and Improve Water Quality

Exotic and Invasive Species

Exotic and invasive species including smooth brome, thistle, reed canarygrass, and sweet clovers have invaded the tallgrass prairie.  Management practices must be effective, as well as ecologically and economically practical.

• Monitor effectiveness of management for exotic species

• Control invasive species and increase species diversity on newly acquired property*

Vertebrates

Animal life abounds within the monument, and many vertebrate populations are currently being studied and baseline inventories are being developed.  This information is critical to the accurate monitoring and managing for the diverse wildlife in Homestead NM .

• Conduct deer census study to determine population level of white-tailed deer within the park and whether it is permanent or transient
• Determine impact deer have on native vegetation
• Research fish community in Cub Creek

Invertebrates

Invertebrate populations can serve as indicators of habitat quality.  Baseline data provides a starting point and extended monitoring of key species can provide details into the status of the habitat (quality, changing).

• Inventory and enhance entomology collections*

• Complete entomology collection and develop invertebrate baseline inventory

• Develop monitoring protocol for selected species after inventory is complete

• Determine if differences in plant community composition affects the abundance and species richness of the most common generalist butterfly group between the restored and native prairies

• Implement Butterfly Monitoring Protocol to Determine Prairie Health*

• Study the threatened butterfly, Regal fritillary

• Determine the impact of management practices on grassland specialist and prairie obligate butterflies (prescribed fire, mowing, herbicide application, grazing, flooding, invasion of exotic species)

Adjacent Land Use

• Evaluate the impacts developments are having on the nightsky on the visitor experience and the wildlife

• Evaluate the impacts developments are having on the odorscape on the visitor experience and the wildlife

• Evaluate the impacts developments are having on the soundscape on the visitor experience and the wildlife

• Improving Visitor Experience through Soundscape Management Planning

GIS/Remote Sensing

• Identify archeological features using geophysical emote sensing *

• GIS Application for Resource Management and Water Quality

Cultural

• Photograph museum collection*

• Re-evaluate and reassess 1948 archeological investigations*

• Protect and Treat Museum Collection

• Research Homesteading Records

• Update Museum Collection Plan; Collection Management Plan

• Protect and Treat Museum Collection, Phase 3 (

• Study/Assessment of Archival Records, Phase 1

• Conduct Collection Condition Survey and Pack and Move Museum Collections

• Study/Assessment of Archival Records, Phase 2

• Study/Assessment of Archival Records, Phase 3 – FY03

• Oral History Project

• Prepare Collection Storage Plan

• Initiate Homestead Records Pilot Project

• Implement Findings of Collection Condition Survey to Conserve Museum Objects

• Correct Deficiencies to Legislatively-Mandated Collection of Homesteading Literature

• Develop a Finding Aid for Oral History Tapes

• Conduct Park-wide Records and Archives Assessment

• Implement Findings of Archive Assessment and Conduct Backlog Catalog of Archive Collection

• Update Furnishing Studies/Special Resource Study – Palmer-Epard Cabin

• Develop Living Homesteader Oral History Project

• Develop and Implement Structural Preservation Guide

• Develop Resource Stewardship Plan