1. Birth of James Bowen, Founder of Kearney, Nebraska:
On June 2, 1818, James Bowen, the founder of Kearney, Nebraska, was born in New England. Originally a blacksmith, Bowen eventually made his way to Nebraska and established a trading post on the Oregon Trail in 1847. This trading post eventually grew into the town of Kearney.

2. First-School Flight in Nebraska:
On June 2, 1913, Lincoln, Nebraska, became the site of the first school flight in the state. The flight was a demonstration by pilot Lincoln Beachey to a group of students from the University of Nebraska.

3. The Birth of Mary Elizabeth Ketring:
Mary Elizabeth Ketring was born on June 2, 1899, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ketring would go on to become a pioneering nurse and the founder of the Nebraska chapter of the American Nurses Association.

4. Nebraska Passes Prohibition Law:
On June 2, 1917, Nebraska passed a Prohibition law that banned the sale of alcohol in the state. The law was part of a nationwide movement to ban alcohol and was eventually overturned in 1934 with the repeal of the 18th Amendment.

5. Nebraska Admitted to the Union:
On June 2, 1867, Nebraska was admitted to the Union as the 37th state. The state's name comes from the Omaha Indian word "Ni-Bthaska," which means "flat water."