The Daniel Boone Homestead, the birthplace of American frontiersman Daniel Boone, is a museum and historic house that is administered by the Friends of the Daniel Boone Homestead near Birdsboro, Berks County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is located on nearly 600acre and is the largest site owned by the PHMC. The staff at Daniel Boone Homestead interpret the lives of the three main families that lived at the Homestead: the Boones, the Maugridges and the DeTurks. The park is just off U.S. Route 422 north of Birdsboro in Exeter Township.HomesteadSquire BooneIn 1730, Squire Boone, Daniel Boone's father, built a log cabin in the Oley Valley in what is now Berks County near present-day Reading. Daniel Boone was born in the -story log house. One wall was built of native stone. The basement of the house served as a springhouse. It provided easy access to water for cleaning, cooking and drinking. The springhouse also was useful for cold storage.Squire Boone expanded his property in 1741 when he purchased 25acre of land for use as a pasture for his dairy cattle. Squire Boone was a blacksmith and weaver. The responsibility for tending the cattle was given to Daniel. During the summer months he stayed in a rustic cabin at the edge of the pasture. From there he was able to protect the cattle from predators such as the black bear, bobcat, and mountain lions.
