Homestead Acts
One of the most significant and enduring pieces of legislation in the history of the United States was the Homestead Act of 1862. The Homestead Act accelerated the settlement of the mid-west and west by granting adult heads of families 160 acres of surveyed, public land, called homesteads. The cost to homesteaders was minimal, and the land would be granted to the settlers provided they met certain requirements. Additional Homestead Acts followed and provided additional incentives for westward settlement.
The first homestead claim in North Dakota (then Dakota Territory) was in 1868. Joseph Rolette, Jr., of Pembina County, submitted the claim. However, he died before the claim could be granted. The first successful homestead claim in the state was Nelson E. Nelson's, also in Pembina County. He filed his claim in 1870 and received his homestead patent in 1877.
By the end of 1870, only 28 homestead claims had been filed in the state, all of which were around Pembina. Later, this would drastically change. North Dakota experienced two periods of population and settlement booms between 1878-1886 and 1870-1915. Homesteading in the state peaked in 1908 with over 14,000 homestead claims being filed.
In North Dakota, over 118,000 homesteads and more than 17 million acres of land (39% of the state) were proved up under the Homestead Acts.
Overview of the Set
One curious and common aspect of homesteading in North Dakota is the tendency to take photographs that are far away, also known as a distance shot or wide shot. The photographer was backed up enough to include much of the farm in the image, but the individuals are indistinguishable. The people are unrecognizable because the camera was so far away from them. This set examines some of these "distance" homestead images. These photographs, if examined closely, tell interesting stories about what life was like at the time (albeit, from a distance).
Discussion questions and additional resources are available at the bottom of the page below the images.
National Resources
State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND)
Prairie Public
Many of these resources and programs are funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
