Homestead National Historical Park

Join Park Ranger Amber Kirkendall on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Homestead National Historical Park’s Heritage Center to learn how to locate and leverage National Park Service sites and digital public lands records to research and connect to your family history. The National Park Service protects and provides access to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage.  There are over 430 National Parks. These public lands tell various parts of the American story and can provide unique physical and digital resources that can help researchers learn more about the experiences of their ancestors. Kirkendall will discuss how to locate National Parks that connect to your family story via major topics, era, and location.

Discover the diversity of the vegetation of Homestead National Historical Park on Saturday, October 5, 2024, by harvesting native seed to be used to repair and restore disturbed areas. Meet at the Education Center at 1 p.m. for a quick introduction to the activity before heading out to harvest seed. No experience is needed. Please wear long pants and closed toed shoes. Gloves are optional and will not be provided. Many people do like to wear gardening type gloves to protect their hands.

Attention star gazers of all ages! Come out to the Heritage Center at Homestead National Historical Park on Saturday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. and join us in a ranger-led astronomy activity. Everyone is encouraged to dress for the weather and bring binoculars or telescopes to view the night sky. There will be three telescopes at the park. In the event the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will have a kid-friendly indoor activity. And of course, the event is FREE!

Curious about the flora, funga, and fauna of Homestead National Historical Park? Venture out to the park on Saturday, September 28 for the 2024 National Public Lands Day - BioBlitz! A bioblitz is a community science effort to identify as many species as possible that can be found within a given space and time. Sunscreen and insect repellent are advised.

Come to Homestead National Historical Park’s Education Center on Sunday, September 15, at 2 p.m. and meet Artist-in-Residence Anita Bauman, who will present a demonstration of her sewing work as she creates a piece inspired by the homestead spirit. She is also inviting visitors to be involved in the sewing process by designing their own fabric blocks or by bringing old fabric they may have at home. Join Bauman as she highlights her enjoyment of sewing at Homestead National Historical Park.