1. Nebraska officially became a state on May 7, 1867. After being designated as a territory in 1854, Nebraska spent over a decade campaigning for statehood. The 37th state in the U.S. was admitted during the tumultuous period of reconstruction after the Civil War.

2. On May 7, 1934, the notorious gangsters Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were gunned down in a police ambush in Louisiana. The duo had terrorized America with their string of robberies and murders, including one in Scottsbluff, Nebraska in 1933.

3. Nebraska was hit by a series of devastating tornadoes on May 7, 1915. The small town of Yutan was particularly hard hit, with 20 people killed and the entire downtown area destroyed. In total, over 20 tornadoes ravaged the state on this day, causing widespread damage and loss of life.

4. Nebraska native Charles Starkweather was born on May 7, 1938. Despite his young age, Starkweather embarked on a killing spree in 1957 that left 11 people dead over a two-month period. He and his girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate were later captured and sentenced to death.

5. May 7, 1965 marked the opening of the Great Plains Art Museum on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The museum is dedicated to showcasing the art and culture of the Great Plains region, with a particular focus on the work of contemporary artists. Today, the museum is a popular destination for art lovers and tourists alike.