America at 250: Nebraska: The Cornhusker State
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, Nebraska’s story unfolds across the vast landscapes of the Great Plains.
Sitting at the heart of the North American region known as the Great Plains, Nebraska’s frontiers and farmland are home to the long history of the many people who have lived in or traveled through the region and who continue to shape it today.
A Brief History of “Where the West Begins”
People have lived in Nebraska for at least ten thousand years. The region’s Paleoindians were nomadic hunters following large game across the plains. The artifacts they left behind, including several types of stone points, have been found at archaeological sites near bones of animals like bison and mammoths. Over time, cultures turned to foraging and hunting smaller game, and some eventually established more settled communities that practiced agriculture.
By the 1600s, horses introduced to North America by Europeans had begun spreading to Indigenous peoples of the Plains. Their arrival brought new alliances and conflicts, influencing where people moved and lived. About this time, the historic tribes that lived in and around the area we now call Nebraska included the Omaha, Oto Missouria, Pawnee, Ponca, Arapahoe, Sioux, Cheyenne, and Comanche. The name “Nebraska” comes from Otoe and Omaha words meaning “flat water.” In 1714, French explorer Étienne de Bourgmont applied a version of the name to what was later named the Platte (from the French for “flat”) River.
Nebraska was part of the land claimed by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Indigenous presence remained strong there; in 1804, Lewis and Clark met with the Omaha in what is now the city of Omaha. From about 1821 to 1854, Nebraska was part of the region called “Indian country,” whose boundaries were defined by Congress in 1834.
This changed in 1854 with the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which created the Nebraska Territory. Increasing numbers of European Americans traveled west to establish farms and settlements, especially after the Homestead Act of 1862. The Pacific Railroad Act, also passed in 1862, accelerated these changes, especially since Omaha, Nebraska, was the original starting point of the Union Pacific Railroad. Nebraska became the 37th state in 1867.
In 1879, Ponca Chief Standing Bear successfully challenged his detention by the U.S. government after attempting to return to his Nebraska homeland. In Standing Bear v. Crook, a federal judge ruled that a Native American was a “person” under the law and entitled to the protections of habeas corpus.
The Great Seal of the State of Nebraska was provided for in its first constitution, and its design was adopted in 1867. It is a circle with a smith at a hammer and anvil in the foreground; a settler’s cabin, wheat sheaves, and corn stalks to represent agriculture; a steamboat on the Missouri River; and, in the background, a train of cars heading west toward the Rocky Mountains. A banner above the scene declares the state’s motto, “Equality Before the Law.”
Source: State Symbols USA
In the decades after the Civil War, land grants continued to encourage settlers coming from the eastern United States and immigrants from Europe well into the 20th century. The farms and agricultural businesses they established are still significant parts of the state’s and nation’s economy.
Source: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Honoring the 250th: Nebraska’s Role in America’s Celebration
Nebraska is marking the nation’s anniversary through the Nebraska Semiquincentennial Commission, which consists of educators, veterans, community leaders, and volunteers. The commission states, “This celebration isn’t about looking back at history from a distance. It’s about seeing yourself in it.” Exhibits, events, and activities across the state teach and celebrate the nation’s history while encouraging reflection on one’s own place in it and how it shapes American life today.
Working with schools, museums, cultural organizations, and community partners, the commission is coordinating events, providing educational materials, and sharing opportunities for activities and volunteer work. Declaring, “Every Nebraskan has a place in this story. We’re here to help you find yours,” the commission encourages a spirit of community while honoring the thousands of years of people and cultures who faced the land’s challenges and thrived on its resources.
Collecting Nebraska
Historical artifacts made by the Indigenous peoples of Nebraska and surrounding states are sometimes grouped together as “Great Plains.” Beadwork, quillwork, decorated clothing, and other objects are important pieces of history and examples of highly skilled work.
Contemporary Native artists in Nebraska draw on the materials, motifs, and subject matter of traditional arts and crafts to celebrate their history, confront stereotypes and misconceptions, and express their unique creative visions. Buying directly from Native artists and reputable galleries and markets supports the artists and their communities while helping collectors establish the authenticity of the art.
For collectors, artifacts like these can evoke the romanticized images popularized by years of frontier tales and Western films. However, please note: Federal and tribal laws may restrict the sale, purchase, or possession of certain Native American cultural items, including funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony. Collectors should research provenance carefully and confirm that an item can be legally and ethically bought or sold.
In the 19th century, multiple photographers in Nebraska created portraits of Native American subjects or scenes of their contemporary lives. These serve as both historic documentation and collectible photography. One of the most famous of these photo series was taken by Frank A. Rinehart at the Indian Congress hosted in Omaha in 1898 along with the Trans-Mississippi Exposition.
Source: LiveAuctioneers/Carnegie’s Auction Gallery
Nebraska is also the source of many agricultural collectibles. It is the Cornhusker State, after all. Tools and household items from historic farms or advertising from the state’s many agricultural companies have plenty of collector interest.
Source: LiveAuctioneers/Bramlett & Co.
Windmill weights, originally made for practical purposes, are collected as folk art today. Nebraska was home to some major manufacturers of windmill weights with distinctive designs. Some of the most famous designs come in the shapes of cows and horses, a nod to their original use on farms.
Source: LiveAuctioneers/Circle Auction
For most of human history, where there is grain, there is beer, and Nebraska is no exception. Omaha had several breweries whose names, logos, and advertisements are sought by today’s breweriana collectors.
Source: LiveAuctioneers/Morean Auctions
If you prefer nonalcoholic drinks, Nebraska is also the birthplace of Kool-Aid. After years of experiments, inventor Edwin Perkins created a fruit-flavored drink mix he called “Kool-Ade” in Hastings, Nebraska, in 1927. The spelling changed in 1934. Its colorful advertising has plenty of collector appeal. The iconic Kool-Aid Man first appeared in television commercials in 1975.
For fans of college sports, “Cornhusker” has another meaning. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers, nicknamed the Huskers or Big Red, compete in the Big Ten Conference and NCAA Division I. Their varsity teams have won national championships in football, volleyball, bowling, men’s gymnastics, and women’s track and field. Vintage merchandise and championship memorabilia are sought by collectors.
Source: LiveAuctioneers/Mynt Auctions
Looking Ahead: Nebraska’s America 250 Calendar Highlights
Yearlong: The Buffalo County Celebration includes living history events, guest speakers, museum tours, trail relays, and more in Kearney and surrounding areas.
March 2, 2026 – January 4, 2027: Our American Dreams, an exhibit at the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island collaborating with the community to explore personal meanings of the American Dream.
May 23 – September 26, 2026: How We Celebrate: Honoring 250 Years of the United States. A summer exhibit at Gage County Historical Society and Museum.
July 2 – December 19, 2026: Material Nation: 250 Years of American Quilts. Part of the “Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026” initiative, the exhibit at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln International Quilt Museum examines creativity, life, and work in America through the nation’s history of quiltmaking.
August 1, 2026 – January 10, 2027: In Search of the Signers. An exhibit at the Durham Museum featuring documents related to 49 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.
September – November 2026: America 250 at the Omaha Public Library. A series of talks, exhibits, and interactive activities offering different cultural perspectives on American history
September 12, 2026: Remember the Ladies: A presentation by Humanities Nebraska speaker Janie York at The Rock Museum and Chapel about women’s work in the American Revolution.
September 17, 2026: Ringing of the Bells Across America—North Platte. The Daughters of the American Revolution Sioux Lookout Chapter kicks off Constitution Week by joining a nationwide initiative to celebrate the first public reading of the Constitution.
September 19-20, 2026: Missouri River Outdoor Expo at Ponca State Park. The 21st Annual Outdoor Expo hosts more than 100 free activities, including sports, vendors, demonstrations, and Voices of America, a series of speakers celebrating America’s 250th.
October 27, 2026: Revolutionary Ambition: America at 250: A Conversation with Nathaniel Philbrick. The 31st Annual Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities, held in Lincoln and livestreamed, invites a historian and bestselling author to share stories of the Revolutionary War.
November 13, 2026: United States Air Force Offutt Brass: Patriotic Favorites for America 250. A free concert at the Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud celebrates Veterans Day and America 250 with the Offutt Brass ensemble of the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band.
