Date: June 6, 2009
Contact: Merrith Baughman, 402-223-3514
The National Park Service is offering three fee-free weekends this summer to encourage Americans seeking affordable vacations to visit their 391 national parks. Mark your calendars for these fee-free weekends this summer: June 20-21, July 18-19, & August 15-16, 2009.
"During these tough economic times, our national parks provide opportunities for affordable vacations for families," said Secretary Ken Salazar at a recent press conference at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
"Homestead National Monument of America does not charge an entrance fee or a fee for special events but does want to encourage people to visit one of the parks that do have an entrance fee during these three weekends. For example, a family might consider a visit to Fort Scott National Historic Site at Fort Scott, Kansas, which currently charges $3 for everyone over 16," said Sue Bruns, Acting Superintendent of Homestead National Monument of America.
"Tourism income helps America’s economic recovery," Salazar said. Most Americans live less than a day’s drive from a park, the Secretary noted. Nationwide, parks last year attracted more than 275 million recreational visits. Spending by non-local visitors provided $10.6 billion for local economies, supporting more than 213,000 jobs, not counting National Park Service jobs.
Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park System located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska on State Highway 4. The monument is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, including Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit
