Fun Facts about Nebraska
Did you know...
- Nebraska was once called “The Great American Desert” by Major Stephen H Long.
- In 1927 Kool-Aid was invented in Hastings by Edwin E. Perkins. It was originally called “Fruit Smack”.
- State flower: Goldenrod
- State insect: Honeybee
- The largest ammunition plant that provided 40% of ammunition for World War II was located in Hastings.
- Nebraska has more miles of river than any other state.
- The Reuben sandwich was (probably) invented in Nebraska. (see the debate of the creator of this famous sandwich here)
- The SAFER barrier wall for NASCAR was developed in Lincoln.
- The largest US’s largest aquifer (underground water supply) is the Ogalala aquifer.
- Nebraska’s Chimney Rock was the most mentioned landmark in journal entries by travelers on the Oregon Trail.
- Dorothy Lynch salad dressing was invented in St. Paul.
- Marlon Brando’s mother gave Henry Fonda acting lessons at the Omaha Community Playhouse.
- Nebraska’s name originated from an Oto Indian word meaning “flat water”.
- The largest porch swing is located in Hebron. It can fit up to 25 adults.
- Buffalo Bill Cody held his first rodeo in North Platte in 1882. His home, Scout’s Ranch, still stands.
- The strobe light was invented by Dr. Harold Edgerton in Aurora.
- The Henry Doorly Zoo is the largest indoor rainforest in the US.
- University of Nebraska’s football team was known as the “Old Gold Knights”, “the Antelopes”, the “Rattlesnake Boys”, and the “Bugeaters” before borrowing the term “Cornhuskers” from neighboring Iowa.
- Carhenge (made up of 39 cars) is located in Alliance.
- Charles Lindbergh took his first flying lessons at the Nebraska Aircraft Corperation flying school in Lincoln in 1922
Famous People from Nebraska
Fred Astaire – actor & dancer from Omaha
Marlon Brando – actor from Omaha
Warren Buffet – investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
James Coburn – actor from Laurel
Dick Cavett – TV entertainer from Gibbon
Henry Fonda – actor from Grand Island
Gerald Rudolph Ford – US president born in Omaha (and moved 2 weeks later)
Malcolm X – civil rights advocate from Omaha
Nick Nolte – actor from Omaha
Red Cloud – Indian rights advocate and leader, born in what is now North Platte
Standing Bear – Indian rights advocate and leader, born by mouth of Niobrara River
Nicholas Sparks – author born in Omaha
Marg Heldenberger – actress from North Bend.
Hilary Swank – actress from Lincoln
Ev Williams – co-founder of Twitter from Clarks
Johnny Carson – “king of late night TV” was from Norfolk
James Valentine – guitarist of band Maroon 5 from Lincoln
Willa Cather – author from Red Cloud
Ted Kooser – former US Poet Laureate, teaches at University of Nebraska Lincoln
L Ron Hubbard – creator of Scientology is from Tilden
Larry the Cable Guy – a.k.a. Dan Whitney – comedian is from Pawnee City
John Beasley – actor is from Omaha
Randy Meisner – founding member of The Eagles is from Scottsbluff
Swoosie Kurtz – actress from Omaha