A widespread spirit of grassroots, local support in the 1930s led to the creation of not only Homestead National Monument, but also the first celebration of Homestead Days! The community of Beatrice organized the "first annual Gage County Homesteader Days" celebration on June 11th and June 12th, 1941, featuring: a "two-mile parade which included four bands, whisker clubs, American Legion drum corps, cowboys on fifty or more frisky horses, antiquated automobiles, old-time buggies, replicas of homestead days, Boy Scouts, scout girls, civic bodies, and other organizations. Streets in the business district were roped off for the ferris wheels, merry-go-round, and other forms of entertainment." Thousands of Gage county residents celebrated in the festivities. The well received event seemed poised for future success.

But with the entry of the United States into World War II later that year, and the increased focus on wartime production, the fervor which had followed the birth of Homestead National Monument died out somewhat. Clarence H. Schultz, who served as the first Superintendent from October 1940 had worked tirelessly to develop the park. That development was brought to a standstill during the war years - Schultz went on a military furlough, and his successor transferred during the war as well. The National Park Service appointed Elmer Hevelone, who had been influential in the birth of the park, as "Acting Custodian." Interest in future Homestead Days had not died out, but other priorities reigned.

 

Despite the thoughts of some to aid the war effort through bond-raising carnivals and events, Homestead National Monument and Homestead Days fell on the backburner. The Homesteader frenzy and nostalgia which had hit southeastern Nebraska waned - while there were dozens of nationwide print news articles about the monument from 1935 to 1942, there wasn't a single one from 1943 until September 1, 1946. In fact, though Homestead National Monument of America was officially authorized on March 19, 1936, and the 160 acre site had been acquired and the prairie restoration was well underway by 1939, most of what we consider to be the monument today was not yet at the site. A Beatrice Daily Sun article noted that "the historic site has not been developed... the only building on the site is a modern utility structure for the custodian" and "for the visitor, the only evidence of a "national monument is two roadside signs." Big plans were in the works however - a museum, a replica homestead cabin, a restoration of the St. Joe - Ft. Kearney Road, a parking area, and housing on the property. Superintendent Schultz, back from his military furlough during World War II, was ready to guide Homestead National Monument to its full potential.

With the development of the monument, and the upcoming centennial of the Homestead Act in 1962, community attention turned once more to honoring and celebrating the historic piece of legislation. The monument hosted a centennial celebration on May 20th, including a parade, a barbecue, and pageants - advertised as a "City-Wide Homestead Day" from June 13th through June 17th, boasting of 1862 prices with 1962 merchandise. The festivities continued well into the 1960s, with annual parades, and even a rodeo with more than 100 cowboys and cowgirls competing.

This article from 1979 recognized the first Homestead Days celebration at Homestead National Monument of America!

 

In its current form, Homestead Days has been an ongoing annual event continually since 1979, when a young park ranger at Homestead proposed the first annual celebration of Homestead Days at Homestead National Monument - the first time it had been held at the monument itself. This 1979 edition of Homestead Days also featured a "Living History Series of Pioneer Crafts Demonstrations" such as spinning wool,dipping candles, and the performance of the Wilber Czech Dancers, throughout the weekend. Beatrice Mayor Larry McKee officially proclaimed July 26th through 30th 1979 as "Homestead Days." Thus, Homestead Days were reborn - subsequent annual events throughout the 1980s at Homestead National Monument continued featuring living history, demonstrations, and arts and crafts: netting, quilting, dying, caning chairs, and more.

In 1984, the city of Beatrice and the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce got back in on the fun. They partnered with Homestead National Monument of America and Chautauqua '84, a weeklong program of living history where actors portrayed historical figures at Homestead Days. The theme for the year was "Jefferson's Dream and the Plains Experience" - including a nightly Chautauqua performance, a parade down Court Street, a barbecue, a black powder weapons demonstration, an arts and crafts fair at Chautauqua Park, and Homestead National Monument continued to provide an all-day "Pioneer Arts and Crafts Demonstration." Since then, the rest is history.

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