Also known as “The Cornhusker State,” Nebraska is the 37th state in the United States. Once explored by the Lewis and Clark expedition and benefited by the California Gold Rush during the 19th century, Nebraska is one of the more progressive states today. It is largely an agricultural state, and is a major producer of beef, pork, corn sorghum and soybeans. It also has one of the lowest unemployment rates. Nebraska’s capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha.
The Pine Region is an escarpment (steep cliff or slope) that is located between the Niobata River and the White River in northwestern Nebraska. The hills are heavily forested with several species of trees that include cottonwoods and the ponderosa pine, which proliferate the forests. There are animals living among the hills too, include a particularly large heard of bighorn sheep, as well elk, mule, deer and wild turkeys. The variety of flora and fauna in the Pine Ridge is somewhat unusual in Nebraska.
For fans of arts and crafts, you can go to the International Quilt Study Center and Museum. It was founded in 1997 when native Nebraskans Ardis and Robert James donated their collection that consisted of 950 quilts to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where the museum is also currently located.
The International Quilt Study Center and Museum exhibits over 4000 quilts from the US and abroad, dating from the early 18th century to the present day. The museum is known to have the largest collection of quilts in the world.
A Reuben sandwich is a type of sandwich whose main and traditional ingredients consist of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing. It is usually served and eaten hot, as it is grilled between slices of rye bread. According some accounts, a Lithuanina-born grocer named Reuben Kulakofsky who was residing in Omaha, Nebraska, was the inventor of the sandwich somewhere from 1920 throught 1935.
The Scotts Bluff National Monument is located in Scots Bluff County, western Nebraska. The Oregon Trail and the Mormon Trail are two of the most important landmarks especially during the 19th century. The Scotts Bluff is named after conspicuous bluff or big rock whose highest point measures at 800 feet (240 meters) that rose above the plains.
During the 19th century the state of Nebraska was once dubbed as the “Great American Desert.” The term was once referred to the western part of the Great Plains (a vast expanse of flat land that lies in parts of Mexico, United States and Canada), east of the Rocky Mountains. Although it was called such then, the people who first settled in desert region were nevertheless determined pioneers. They constructed irrigation systems and developed scientific farming which helped transform Nebraska as a productive region for farming. Look at Nebraska now — it is currently one of the top 10 agricultural states in the US.
The Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) was named as the official state bird of Nebraska in 1929.
The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was designated as the official state mammal of Nebraska in 1981.
“Beautiful Nebraska,” was written by Jim Frias (music) and Guy G. Millier (lyrics) in 1960. Seven years later it was adopted as the official state song of Nebraska.
The blue agate was officially adopted as Nebraska’s state gemstone in 1967, together with the prairie agate which was named the state rock or stone.
The eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) was named by Nebraska as its official state tree in 1972, replacing its former tree, the American elm.
The civil and state flag of Nebraska consists of a blue rectangular field with the official state seal in the middle. It was adopted in 1925, but was officially designated as Nebraska’s state flag in 1963.
The goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) was declared as the state flower of Nebraska in 1895 by legislative action.
Also known as Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, it is a zoo located at 3701 South 10th Street, in the city of Omaha, Nebraska. In 2014 it was proclaimed as one of the best zoos in the world, according to the world’s leading travel website, TripAdvisor. It features a dozen or more exhibits including the Desert Dome, the Lied Jungle, the Durham Family Bear Canyon, Tree of Learning, Butterfly and Insect Pavilion. The zoom aims to conserve several species of animals as well as educating the public about them.