Nebraska’s wide-open skies have long attracted settlers, and its legacy of innovation continues to inspire people to put down roots. Whether you’re exploring its history or looking to invest in its future, Nebraska is a place where ideas and communities grow. This month, we had the opportunity to curate a list that highlights a few of Nebraska’s treasures.
Arbor Day
The vast, windswept landscapes of the Nebraska Territory posed a challenge for early settlers, who found solace in planting trees. In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed a new holiday, Arbor Day, that would carry this tradition of planting trees in abundance into the future. We continue to celebrate Arbor Day every April as a testament to the future of Nebraska, planting trees and enjoying the fresh air, beauty, and shade they provide.
The Reuben
Nebraska claims ownership of the Reuben sandwich due to its 1925 appearance on the menu of the Blackstone Hotel, now known as the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel. Try the corned beef, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, and gruyere sandwich on rye bread for yourself at the Orleans Room in the Cottonwood, where you can order a single, double, or triple decker.
Kool Aid
You can thank Edwin Perkins of Hastings for the refreshing, nostalgic taste of Kool Aid. The fruit-flavored drink has been a favorite for generations, even during the Great Depression, when prices were slashed from ten to five cents per packet to remain affordable for all.
Some other notable Famous Nebraska Inventions:
- Dorothy Lynch
- Frozen TV dinners
- The McRib
- 911
- Cliffs Notes
- Top 40 radio stations
- Voting Booths
Bonus: In late 2024, the Nebraska Manufacturing Alliance held a competition to find the “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska.” Valley Irrigation made it to the center spot on the bracket, with the “Valley Center Pivot,” a center pivot irrigation system used in agriculture, being crowned the “Coolest” Nebraska invention.
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