Nebraska

Nebraska entered the Union on March 1, 1867, becoming the nation’s thirty-seventh state. Known as the Cornhusker State, it has Lincoln as its capital and Omaha as its largest city. Located in the Great Plains, Nebraska stretches from the Missouri River along its eastern border to the high plains and rocky formations of its western Panhandle. Its landscape includes productive farmland, broad river valleys, the grass-covered Sandhills, and landmarks such as Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff.

Overland trails, railroads, and agriculture shaped Nebraska’s growth. During the nineteenth century, the Platte River valley became a major corridor for travelers following the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails. The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged settlement and farming, while construction of the transcontinental railroad connected communities with distant markets. Cattle ranching, corn production, meatpacking, and commerce helped build the state’s economy. Nebraska’s historic trails, pioneer homes, railroad sites, and agricultural communities preserve stories of migration, enterprise, and life on the Great Plains.