1. In 1925, the Scopes Trial in Tennessee came to a close. This famous trial, which revolved around the teaching of evolution in public schools, also had repercussions in Nebraska. In the following years, Nebraska became one of several states to ban the teaching of evolution in public schools.

2. In 1934, the notorious outlaw John Dillinger was shot and killed outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. Though he was not from Nebraska, Dillinger had Nebraska connections, having been arrested in the state several times during his criminal career.

3. On July 21, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission successfully landed astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon. Though this historic event did not take place in Nebraska, it was celebrated around the world and sparked a renewed interest in space exploration.

4. In 1980, Nebraska's first female governor, Kay Orr, was elected to office. Orr served two terms as governor and was known for her conservative politics and efforts to reduce government spending.

5. In 2010, Nebraska became the first state to abolish the death penalty by legislative decree since 1972. Governor Dave Heineman signed a bill into law that replaced capital punishment with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. However, the state reinstated the death penalty in 2015, and it remains a controversial issue in Nebraska politics.