1. In 1906, the Nebraska Legislature conducted its final session in the old Capitol building in Lincoln before moving into the current building.

2. On April 18, 1912, the first shovel of dirt was turned in Kearney for the construction of the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. The monument, which spans I-80, was completed in 2000 and is one of Nebraska's major tourist attractions.

3. In 1925, Nebraska became the first state to complete a transcontinental highway, the Lincoln Highway. The highway ran from San Francisco to New York City and crossed through Nebraska.

4. On April 18, 1937, the Great Plains tornado outbreak devastated parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The outbreak, which lasted for two days, produced 49 confirmed tornadoes and caused over 170 deaths.

5. In 1987, Union Pacific's Challenger No. 3985 locomotive made its first excursion run through Nebraska. The steam engine, built in 1943, is one of the largest and most powerful steam locomotives ever built and has been a popular attraction for train enthusiasts in Nebraska and throughout the country.