Homestead National Monument of America premiered its new interpretive film Land of Dreams: Homesteading America on Saturday, April 5 in Beatrice, Nebraska. The film produced and directed by Chuck Dunkerly of the National Park Service’s Center for Media Services in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia chronicles the great changes brought about by passage and implementation of the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act distributed over 270 million acres of land in 30 states between 1863 and 1986.
Dunkerly’ artistic vision and passion for this film make it a truly inspiring visitor experience. He and his team worked on the film for over two years, traveled to a dozen different states, and conducted over 40 interviews with historians, living homesteaders, homesteader descendants, and American Indians of several different nations. The film allows the homesteaders to speak of their own experiences and descendants to talk about their ancestors. The American Indians interviewed provide perspectives of homesteading, federal land policies, and native land loss. The voices of historians round out the story and provide additional factual information. All of the voices combine to provide a sweeping interpretation of the Homestead Act’s effects on the land and the many different groups of people who feel connected to it.
The premiere event was held at the Hevelone Center for the Performing Arts in Beatrice and was attended by approximately 450 people, including many of those interviewed for the film. The day before approximately 1000 young people also saw the film during two special performances for students, grades 8-12. The evening’s program included musician Atz Kilcher, the son of Alaskan homesteaders and the father of popular singer Jewel. Janice Meza a renowned concert pianist from Boston performed an original piano piece written specifically for the film premiere. Representatives of the National Park Service, the Friends of Homestead, and the partners who provided critical financial assistance for the film all addressed the audience as well. A reception was held prior to the premier, and all who arrived walked a red carpet into the Hevelone Center as Hollywood-style spotlights filled the sky.
The following partners provided generous financial assistance to the monument and allowed Land of Dreams: Homesteading America to become a truly top-notch, state-of-the-art production: Nebraska Public Power District; First National Beatrice Bank; and Pinnacle Bank. Partners for the premiere event included Eastern National, Hevelone Foundation and the Nebraska Arts Council. The National Park Service and Homestead National Monument of America gratefully acknowledge and salute these outstanding partners.
