1. Nebraska became the 37th state on March 1, 1867, but it wasn't until May 18 of that year that the state's first governor was inaugurated. David Butler, a Republican from New York, served as Nebraska's governor from 1867 to 1871.

2. On May 18, 1953, a devastating tornado touched down in the small town of Ruskin, Nebraska. The storm destroyed much of the town and killed two people. It is one of the deadliest tornadoes in Nebraska history.

3. May 18, 1970 marked the beginning of a week-long student strike at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in response to the National Guard's killing of four students at Kent State University. The strike resulted in the closure of the university for the rest of the semester.

4. In 2013, on May 18, the University of Nebraska-Omaha awarded honorary degrees to two members of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military aviators in the United States Army Air Corps. The men were recognized for their historical contributions to the country and the field of aviation.

5. On May 18, 2015, Nebraska became the 19th state to legalize same-sex marriage. The decision followed a federal ruling by U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon striking down the state's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional.