area in southeastern Nebraska, U.S., just west of Beatrice, established in 1936 as a memorial emblematic of the hardships of pioneer life. It is the site of the first claim under the Homestead Act of 1862, entered by Dan Freeman. The visitor centre has exhibits tracing the development of the movement, under which more than one million citizens became landowners. The monument, which occupies 163 acres (66 hectares), also includes a homestead log cabin that was built in a neighbouring township in 1867 and later was moved to the site. The graves of Freeman and his wife are situated on a hill overlooking the monument.