Guest Author - Beth Green

Nebraska became the 37th state, on March 1, 1867. The name “Nebraska” means ‘flat river’ and refers to the Platte River. It is based on an Oto Indian word.

The first capital was Omaha, but Lincoln was named the capital on the same day that Nebraska became a state. Lincoln was founded as the Village of Lancaster, but was renamed Lincoln when the city became the capital city. The name Lincoln was chosen in honor of President Lincoln, who had been assassinated two years earlier.

The state nickname is the Cornhusker State, based on the nickname of the University of Nebraska athletic teams. The name was coined by Nebraska Journal sportswriter Charles Sherman in 1900, and comes from the method of harvesting, or husking, corn by hand.

The state flag is a field of blue, with a gold and silver state seal in the center.

The state motto is Equality Before The Law.

Goldenrod, an erect, course-looking herb that grows two to three feet tall, and is found throughout Nebraska, was named the state flower in April of 1895.

The state bird of Nebraska is the Western Meadowlark. The male has a bright yellow underbelly, with a black V on the breast. The female is a duller yellow, with a brown V. The beak is sharply-pointed. Both male and female Meadowlarks have brown heads and tail feathers. The Western Meadowlark is 8 ½ to 10 inches long.

The Cottonwood is the official state tree of Nebraska. The Cottonwood features triangular leaves, grey bark and cottony seeds.

The honeybee is the official state insect. Blue Agate is the state gem.

On June 21, 1967, “Beautiful Nebraska” was named the state song. Russian refugee Jim Fras wrote the song after he moved to Nebraska in 1952.

President Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States, was born in Omaha on July 14, 1913.

Other famous Nebraskans include dancer Fred Astaire (Omaha); actors Henry Fonda (Grand Island), Nick Nolte and Marlon Brando (Omaha); investor Warren Buffet (Omaha); civil rights advocate Malcolm X (Omaha); singer Paul Williams (Omaha) and movie producer Darryl F. Zanuck (Wahoo).