March 1, 1867 Nebraska Becomes a State

The state of Nebraska became the thirty-seventh state of the Union on March 1, 1867. The first known European settlers in Nebraska were fur traders and trappers. Later, the Lewis and Clark expedition explored the eastern part of Nebraska. Today, Nebraska is the sixteenth largest state in area and is well-known for its agriculture. Where it was once thought of as a desert, the determined people who settled in Nebraska built irrigation systems and used scientific methods in their farming. Now, over 90% of Nebraska is a land of ranches and farms. The lowest point in Nebraska is along the Missouri River. Many famous people are from Nebraska, including Dick Cheney, Gerald Ford, Red Cloud, Chuck Hagel, and Warren Buffett.

Look at the map of Nebraska below. Label the capital of Nebraska. Locate the cities of Grand Island, Omaha, Bellevue, Crawford, Red Cloud, Ashland, Brownville, and Fort Calhoun and label them on the map. Now label Panorama Point. Also, locate the Platte River, Loup River, Elkhorn River, Republican River, Big Blue River, Little Blue River, Niobrara River, Missouri River, Lake McConaughy, Johnson Lake, Lewis and Clark Lake, Swanson Lake, Harlan County Lake, and Harry Strunk Lake, and label them. Lastly, label the states or bodies of water that border Nebraska. When you have finished, move on to the timeline of Nebraska history on the next page and the research prompts that follow.

1682

1720

1803

1804

1806

1819

1820

1833

1843

1848

1854

1865

1867

1868

1874

1877

1898

1927

1939

1948

1. Lewis and Clark reach the eastern part of Nebraska as they travel west

2. A 3-year plague of grasshoppers begins to invade Nebraska farmland

3. The first resident missionaries to the Nebraska Native Americans, Rev. Moses Merrill and his wife Eliza, arrive in Bellevue

4. Native American warrior Crazy Horse surrenders in Nebraska

5. The first military post in Nebraska is established by the United States Army at Fort Atkinson

6. Spanish forces are defeated by the Pawnees along the Platte River

7. The area known as the Nebraska Territory is organized

8. The state capitol is moved from Omaha to Lincoln

9. The explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle claims the area now known as Nebraska for France

10. A resident of Hastings establishes the Kool-Aid company there

11. The Union Pacific Railroad begins building its railroad line west from Omaha

12. Southern Nebraska is explored by Zebulon Pike

13. Nebraska becomes the thirty-seventh state of the Union

14. Major Stephen Long leads an expedition to the Rocky Mountains, giving his opinion of the plains as a place for settlement

15. The United States Strategic Air Command opens near Omaha

16. Oil is discovered in southeastern Nebraska

17. The United States purchases territory from France in the Louisiana Purchase that includes the area now known as Nebraska

18. The Trans-Mississippi International Exposition opens in Omaha

19. Fort Kearny is established along the much-traveled Oregon Trail

20. The “Great Migration” along the Oregon Trail through Nebraska begins

In the town of Kearney, Nebraska, in the late 1800s, there existed a social club called the Bachelors’ Protective Union of Kearney. Research this club. Did they have a problem with a member who decided to get married? How were members treated when they were going to be married? Do you think this type of club was a good thing to have for the single men in Kearney? Why or why not?

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Research the Alliance Army Air Field that was built in Alliance County, Nebraska, in 1942. Why was it built? What difficulties were encountered by the people building the airfield? Is it still in use by the Army? If not, what happened to it? How is it remembered today?

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Research the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument near Kearney, Nebraska. Why was it built? What can you see there? How large is it? Do you think a monument like this is important to remember the history of the nation? Do you think it is important to remember our history or do you think history is not applicable to life today? Explain the reasons for your answer.

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©2016 Bonnie Rose Hudson WriteBonnieRose.com Timeline of Nebraska History Answer Key: The explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle claims the area now known as Nebraska for France 1682 Spanish forces are defeated by the The United States purchases territory from 1720 Pawnees along the Platte River France in the Louisiana Purchase that includes the area now known as Nebraska 1803 Lewis and Clark reach the eastern part 1804 of Nebraska as they travel west Southern Nebraska is explored by Zebulon Pike 1806 The first military post in Nebraska is established by the United States Major Stephen Long leads an expedition to the 1819 Army at Fort Atkinson Rocky Mountains, giving his opinion of the plains as a place for settlement 1820 The first resident missionaries to the Nebraska Native Americans, Rev. Moses 1833 Merrill and his wife Eliza, arrive in Bellevue The “Great Migration” along the Oregon Trail through Nebraska begins 1843 Fort Kearny is established along 1848 the much-traveled Oregon Trail The area known as the Nebraska Territory is organized 1854 The Union Pacific Railroad begins 1865 building its railroad line west from Omaha Nebraska becomes the thirty-seventh state of the Union 1867 The state capitol is moved 1868 from Omaha to Lincoln A 3-year plague of grasshoppers begins to invade Nebraska farmland 1874 Native American warrior Crazy 1877 Horse surrenders in Nebraska The Trans-Mississippi International Exposition opens in Omaha 1898 A resident of Hastings establishes 1927 the Kool-Aid company there

Oil is discovered in southeastern Nebraska 1939

The United States Strategic 1948 Air Command opens near Omaha