Homesteading's Economic Opportunities for Women  and Minorities The 1862 Homestead Act was very remarkable for its time because it allowed women the same rights to homestead as men. They had to be either the head of a household or over 21 years old. Married men were usually considered to be the head of the household. If a woman’s husband died before he had received patent to a homestead claim, the widow could then complete the process and obtain the land in her own name.  Learn More>>

Homesteading as a Spark to the Settlement of New Areas and  Economic Growth  Homesteading, at its core, was an American phenomenon. It can be seen as an embodiment of the American Dream. Its principles validated core American values such as, “Hard work is the path to success.” It seemed to prove that America was a land of unbounded opportunity.  Learn More>>