Nebraska

» Adams County 21 » Antelope County 12 » Arthur County 2 » Banner County 1 » Boone County 6 » Box Butte County 4 » Boyd County 5 » Brown County 1 » Buffalo County 20 » Burt County 14 » Butler County 13 » Cass County 30 » Cedar County 14 » Chase County 7 » Cherry County 12 » Cheyenne County 12 » Clay County 7 » Colfax County 12 » Cuming County 3 » Custer County 14 » Dakota County 5 » Dawes County 15 » Dawson County 10 » Deuel County 5 » Dixon County 6 » Dodge County 22 » Douglas County 189 » Dundy County 2 » Fillmore County 17 » Franklin County 4 » Frontier County 2 » Furnas County 2 » Gage County 30 » Garden County 7 » Garfield County 3 » Gosper County 1 » Grant County 1 » Greeley County 6 » Hall County 28 » Hamilton County 6 » Harlan County 6 » Hayes County 3 » Hitchcock County 4 » Holt County 10 » Hooker County 3 » Howard County 7 » Jefferson County 14 » Johnson County 4 » Kearney County 8 » Keith County 13 » Keya Paha County 2 » Kimball County 5 » Knox County 15 » Lancaster County 106 » Lincoln County 10 » Loup County 2 » Madison County 11 » Merrick County 8 » Morrill County 9 » Nance County 11 » Nemaha County 13 » Nuckolls County 7 » Otoe County 26 » Pawnee County 14 » Perkins County 4 » Phelps County 5 » Pierce County 5 » Platte County 22 » Polk County 6 » Red Willow County 10 » Richardson County 12 » Rock County 3 » Saline County 20 » Sarpy County 19 » Saunders County 22 » Scotts Bluff County 21 » Seward County 9 » Sheridan County 10 » Sherman County 5 » Sioux County 6 » Stanton County 1 » Thayer County 2 » Thomas County 1 » Thurston County 5 » Valley County 7 » Washington County 14 » Wayne County 5 » Webster County 36 » Wheeler County 2 » York County 5

» Adams County 3 » Antelope County 6 » Arthur County 1 » Boone County 2 » Box Butte County 3 » Boyd County 2 » Brown County 3 » Buffalo County 35 » Burt County 1 » Butler County 2 » Cass County 11 » Cedar County 7 » Chase County 3 » Cherry County 5 » Cheyenne County 4 » Clay County 2 » Colfax County 1 » Cuming County 4 » Custer County 10 » Dakota County 4 » Dawes County 34 » Dawson County 11 » Deuel County 15 » Dixon County 4 » Dodge County 7 » Douglas County 99 » Dundy County 5 » Fillmore County 6 » Franklin County 6 » Frontier County 1 » Furnas County 3 » Gage County 33 » Garden County 14 » Garfield County 8 » Gosper County 1 » Grant County 1 » Greeley County 2 » Hall County 39 » Hamilton County 5 » Harlan County 2 » Hayes County 1 » Hitchcock County 5 » Holt County 9 » Hooker County 2 » Howard County 4 » Jefferson County 8 » Johnson County 8 » Kearney County 8 » Keith County 29 » Keya Paha County 1 » Kimball County 2 » Knox County 15 » Lancaster County 24 » Lincoln County 46 » Loup County 2 » Madison County 8 » McPherson County 1 » Merrick County 5 » Morrill County 20 » Nance County 3 » Nemaha County 16 » Nuckolls County 2 » Otoe County 20 » Pawnee County 13 » Perkins County 2 » Phelps County 2 » Pierce County 1 » Platte County 30 » Polk County 5 » Red Willow County 9 » Richardson County 2 » Rock County 1 » Saline County 10 » Sarpy County 6 » Saunders County 8 » Scotts Bluff County 38 » Seward County 10 » Sheridan County 5 » Sherman County 6 » Sioux County 10 » Stanton County 1 » Thayer County 9 » Thomas County 4 » Thurston County 1 » Valley County 2 » Washington County 13 » Wayne County 2 » Webster County 8 » Wheeler County 1 » York County 9

» Adams County » Antelope County » Arthur County » Banner County » Blaine County » Boone County » Box Butte County » Boyd County » Brown County » Buffalo County » Burt County » Butler County » Cass County » Cedar County » Chase County » Cherry County » Cheyenne County » Clay County » Colfax County » Cuming County » Custer County » Dakota County » Dawes County » Dawson County » Deuel County » Dixon County » Dodge County » Douglas County » Dundy County » Fillmore County » Franklin County » Frontier County » Furnas County » Gage County » Garden County » Garfield County » Gosper County » Grant County » Greeley County » Hall County » Hamilton County » Harlan County » Hayes County » Hitchcock County » Holt County » Hooker County » Howard County » Jefferson County » Johnson County » Kearney County » Keith County » Keya Paha County » Kimball County » Knox County » Lancaster County » Lincoln County » Logan County » Loup County » McPherson County » Madison County » Merrick County » Morrill County » Nance County » Nemaha County » Nuckolls County » Otoe County » Pawnee County » Perkins County » Phelps County » Pierce County » Platte County » Polk County » Red Willow County » Richardson County » Rock County » Saline County » Sarpy County » Saunders County » Scotts Bluff County » Seward County » Sheridan County » Sherman County » Sioux County » Stanton County » Thayer County » Thomas County » Thurston County » Valley County » Washington County » Wayne County » Webster County » Wheeler County » York County
Nebraska is a state of mind. It is a place of dreams and hard work, where the prairies stretch out as far as the eye can see.
Ted Kooser in Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps
Nebraska's history unfolds across its vast landscapes. From Native American cultures to pioneer trails and agricultural development, the state's past is intertwined with resilience and growth. Nebraska played a vital role in westward expansion, with the iconic Oregon Trail and Pony Express passing through its plains. Its rich farming heritage and dedication to agricultural innovation have shaped the state's identity. Today, Nebraska welcomes visitors with its charming small towns, wide-open spaces, and enduring pioneer spirit. Explore the history and natural beauty of Nebraska, where the past meets endless horizons.
Brief timeline of the history of the state of Nebraska:

  • 1541: Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado explores the region of present-day Nebraska.
  • 1803: The United States acquires the land as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
  • 1820: The first permanent white settlement, known as Fort Lisa, is established by fur trader Manuel Lisa near present-day Omaha.
  • 1854: The Kansas-Nebraska Act is passed, organizing the Nebraska Territory and opening it for settlement. This act also allows for popular sovereignty, meaning that settlers can decide whether to allow slavery in the territory.
  • 1867: Nebraska becomes the 37th state of the United States.
  • 1869: The completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah, connects Nebraska to the rest of the country and boosts the state's economic growth.
  • 1872: Arbor Day, a holiday dedicated to tree planting, is first celebrated in Nebraska, thanks to the efforts of Julius Sterling Morton.
  • 1887: The Dawes Act is passed, leading to the division of Native American tribal lands into individual plots and the opening of reservations for white settlement.
  • 1920s: Nebraska experiences an agricultural boom, with advancements in irrigation and mechanization leading to increased crop production.
  • 1930s: The Great Depression hits Nebraska hard, causing widespread unemployment, farm foreclosures, and economic hardships.
  • 1954: The Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education declares racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, leading to efforts to desegregate schools in Nebraska.
  • 1970: Omaha hosts the first College World Series, an annual baseball tournament, which becomes a major sporting event in the state.
  • 1997: The Nebraska Legislature abolishes the death penalty, but it is reinstated through a voter referendum in 2016.
  • Today, Nebraska is known for its agricultural industry, including corn, soybeans, beef, and pork production. The state also has a strong university system and is home to notable attractions such as the Henry Doorly Zoo and the Chimney Rock National Historic Site.
Audiobooks about the history of Nebraska.