Heritage Center

Yesterday morning we went out at ten and had a wonderful breakfast at a Crackle Barrel. It was very, very good. After that, we drove an hour, and arrived at a semi-big building, which was on the sight of a homesteaders house, and was there to tell the stories and explain what homesteading was. A young man with blackish hair named Blake Bell greeted us, and told us all about Lincoln (the president, not the town) signing a law saying that anyone could go out and homestead the west and there was two catches, he said: First, you had to build a house in a span of five years, Second, you had to make stuff (grain, corn, cattle, etc. etc.) on at least 10 acres of your 160 acres. They called this proving up the land. It was cool to listen, and I enjoyed talking to Blake. He was really cool. At the entrance, you saw a small gift shop on the right and a big desk for the employees. Also on the left was a big employee room and farther down was a room which had a movie they presented. In front was a cool twisty staircase and an exhibit that was really cool.

We saw a colossal movie, with quotes and interviews by the ancestors of homesteaders and actual homesteaders. We sadly learned about the Indians being pushed farther and farther west, and we learned how hard it was to work out there in the dry soil and bad weather. It was amazing that that many stuck it out, it just shows what Americans can do. We went down stairs and saw the beautiful exhibit, and it was really interesting to learn HOW they did the land and how they applied and... how they survived. We saw how owners of newspapers like Horace Greeley promoted going out, and how immigrants, freed slaves, and single woman wanted something to call their own. It was really cool.

We also went behind the National Park building and saw a homesteaders cabin, that was a wood one and very small. We saw a first floor of it, with a desk by the back by the ladder going up to the second floor, and in the left on the corner, was a table with fake food on it. On the other side was a little bed and cabinet. But this isn't the least. They lived on it for many years, and 12 people, 10 kids and two adults lived here! That would be quite tight!

It was really cool and interesting to come to the Heritage Center, and I learned a lot. It was also fun to meet Blake. Nice meeting you, man!

I'm hungry,

Andrew.