Nebraska the good life sign

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