Photographer. "Commemorating Homesteaders and Norwegian Immigrants." 1898. Photograph. Description: The picture shows John and Marget Bakken, along with their children Tilda and Eddie, in front of their sod house in Milton, North Dakota, in 1898. John Bakken, the son of Norwegian immigrants, homesteaded and built the sod house in 1896. The sod house served as the inspiration for the design of the Homestead Act Commemorative Stamp in 1962. The photograph was used on a postage stamp by Norway in 1975 to mark the sesquicentennial of Norwegian emigration to America, with the children included in this version. Source: Institute for Regional Studies, North Dakota State University Libraries - https://library.ndsu.edu/exhibits/pioneer/camera/sod.htm.
Homestead Act
The Homestead Act, passed in May 1862, was a significant piece of legislation that granted adult heads of families the opportunity to claim 160 acres of surveyed public land. This land could be obtained for a minimal filing fee. However, in order to maintain their claim, the homesteaders were required to "improve" the plot by constructing a dwelling and cultivating the land.
After five years of residing on the land and fulfilling the requirements, the original filer of the claim became the rightful owner of the property, free and clear, except for a small registration fee. The intention behind this act was to encourage settlement and development of the vast expanses of the United States.
While the Homestead Act aimed to provide opportunities for ordinary citizens to acquire land, the reality was that most of the land ended up in the hands of speculators, cattlemen, miners, lumbermen, and railroads. Out of the approximately 500 million acres of land dispersed by the General Land Office between 1862 and 1904, only 80 million acres were actually obtained by homesteaders.
Despite the limitations and challenges, the Homestead Act played a significant role in the settlement of the plains in the United States. It opened up opportunities for individuals and families to pursue a better life, cultivate the land, and contribute to the growth of the nation.
The Homestead Act stands as a testament to the pioneering spirit and determination of those who sought to make a new life for themselves in the vast and untamed territories of America. Through this legislation, the landscape of the United States was forever changed, and the foundations for modern communities were laid.