> ## Content Index
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# Homesteading
- URL: https://www.cascadepbs.org/show/homesteading/specials/homesteading-gebvmt/
- Published: 2026-03-09T19:06:08.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-01T05:02:19.000Z
- Description: Explore the stories of 19th century homesteaders in the upper Midwest.
- Author: Cascade PBS Staff
- Tags: Homesteading, #ZZZ_Show_48a7dc79-917e-4fee-85ed-254c28c27bcd, #v1.7, #ZZZ_Special_ec7a4479-92a0-41ee-a087-9d5f4017681c, #special

The Homestead Act of 1862 made it possible for anyone with the will to work hard and improve their land to claim 160 acres for their own. But some of these homesteaders challenged the stereotype of who homesteaded and why. This documentary blends interviews with historians, the stories told by descendants of homesteaders, and dramatic readings from pioneer diaries and letters to recreate history.