---
title: Homestead and the Building of the Barbed Wire Fences
author: John Steuart Curry
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21961/homestead-and-the-building-of-the-barbed-wire-fenc/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2026-07-24
---

# Homestead and the Building of the Barbed Wire Fences

_Authored by John Steuart Curry_

## Image File

[![Homestead and the Building of the Barbed Wire Fences](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21961.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21961.jpg)

## Image Caption

*The Homestead and the Building of the Barbed Wire Fences*, oil on paperboard by John Steuart Curry, c. 1935-1943.

The *Homestead Act* of 1862 accelerated settlement of the Western territory, guaranteeing title to 160 acres of surveyed land for each claimant who worked their plot for five years. Here, Curry frames a family of homesteaders in an idyllic rendering of the Great Plains, evoking a sense of promise that for many hopefuls who attempted to build a new life under the Act was never realized.

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Curry, J. S. (2026, July 24). Homestead and the Building of the Barbed Wire Fences. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21961/homestead-and-the-building-of-the-barbed-wire-fenc/>
### Chicago
Curry, John Steuart. "Homestead and the Building of the Barbed Wire Fences." *World History Encyclopedia*, July 24, 2026. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21961/homestead-and-the-building-of-the-barbed-wire-fenc/>.
### MLA
Curry, John Steuart. "Homestead and the Building of the Barbed Wire Fences." *World History Encyclopedia*, 24 Jul 2026, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21961/homestead-and-the-building-of-the-barbed-wire-fenc/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://www.si.edu/object/homestead-and-building-barbed-wire-fences-mural-study-interior-building-general-land-office:saam_1992.41) by **John Steuart Curry**. Submitted by [Zachary Kay](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/zacharykay/ "User Page: Zachary Kay"), published on 24 July 2026. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.