Nebraska 150 Celebration

An initiative to collect new oral histories of Nebraskans through a variety of digital platforms including YouTube, SoundCloud, Facebook, and Twitter.

A program to provide free books about Willa Cather and Chief Standing Bear to Nebraska high school and elementary students with accompanying curriculum.

A web-based fitness program that will challenge Nebraskans to walk, run, bike, or swim 150 miles or more in 2017. The website and program launch January 1, 2017.

An initiative to spark teams of volunteers to engage in 150 hours or more of service in 2017 and track their progress through a web-based program. The website and program launch January 1, 2017.

A program to provide workbooks developed by Wayne State College Professor Dr. Randy Bertolas and curriculum that highlight fun information about the state and our citizens for every fourth grader in Nebraska.

An initiative to digitize, transcribe, and index aging oral histories at the Nebraska State Historical Society in jeopardy of being lost to time and decay.  The project will also involve collecting new stories of Nebraskans from all walks of life, generations and experiences for future generations.

A large-scale tribute to Nebraska’s history and culture featuring a parade, light show, fireworks, music, art, and more. Located on Centennial Mall in Lincoln

A partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation to help restore the state’s forests and public green spaces that have been affected by ash bore and pine disease.

A special, historic celebration for our veterans, past, present, and future.

A statewide celebration of our 150th anniversary, featuring special events at the State Capitol and throughout Nebraska

A Union Pacific Streamliner locomotive will traverse the state Aug. 4-6 during a three day “whistle stop tour,” a rare event harkening back to the early 19th century.

Communities along the route will host rallies and festivals to welcome the train’s passengers: Governor Pete Ricketts, First Lady Susanne Shore, UP Chairman Lance Fritz, and other Nebraska native celebrities and notable figures, will disembark to give speeches, take photos and sign autographs for audiences.

More information will be coming soon. To ensure the trip remains on schedule and the tour reaches as many Nebraskans as possible, public train tours and tickets are not available.

Through engaging video shorts, lasting one to two minutes, students will learn about Nebraska stories and facts, along with the historical background that give them context. During this journey, students will discover why Nebraska is one of the most interesting places to live. The videos will be free to access online via YouTube.

An initiative to ensure that all fourth grade students studying Nebraska history have the opportunity to visit the State Capitol or another historically or culturally significant site in 2017.

A traveling children's museum that will cover the entire state and highlight our past, present, and future.