Nearly 77,000 Nebraska homestead records containing more than 1.6 million digital images have been digitized. The project has taken a decade of planning, preparation and execution. Experts say 45% of the land in Nebraska was settled by homesteaders, the highest percentage of the 30 homesteading states. Most homestead files have survived and are available for purchase through the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington. However, if your ancestors homesteaded in Nebraska, you can now search and view the homestead database for free at Homestead National Monument near Beatrice, University of Nebraska-Lincoln library, NARA research centers nationwide and several Family History Centers. The information can also be viewed online through subscription services like Ancestry.com and Fold3.com. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed U.S. citizens to claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Homesteaders were required to improve the land by building homes and raising crops. After five years, the homesteader received title to the land, free and clear. Homestead files contain details about the land improvements and may include records of military service and naturalization. Having the records available online saves time and money!