Nebraska 101

Yesterday, Ben and I took a scenic drive out into the countryside of Nebraska to the sand hills. At one point we probably went a couple dozen miles without seeing another car. At this time of the year you would think you were in the middle of the Alaskan tundra. It does have a beauty of it’s own however, and when the sun is setting it’s very beautiful.

Here are a few Nebraska fun facts:

Kool-Aid was invented in Hastings, NE in 1927 by Edwin Perkins.
Vice grips were invented here.

Marlon Brando was born in Omaha.

The Sand Hills are the largest grass-covered dunes of the Western Hemisphere.

Johnny Carson was raised in Norfolk.

Though there aren’t many trees, it used to be nicknamed “The Tree Planter’s State” as Arbor Day was started in Nebraska during 1872. Hence, Nebraksa host’s the world’s largest hand-planted forest.

Whale fishing is illegal in Nebraska.

Buffalo Bill’s first rodeo was held here near North Platte.

It’s illegal for barbers to eat onions between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. in Waterloo.

The largest weight room in the country is at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, covering almost an entire acre.

The town Friend has the country’s smallest police station.

Lincoln is where Charles Lindberg learned to fly.

The late Gerald Ford was born in Nebraska.

The famous carhenge is in Aliance, Nebraska (sadly I won’t get to go there).

Even though I ate at Big Judd’s in Boise, supposedly the world’s largest hamburgers are made in the town of Harrison, not sure if I’m willing to make another attempt at something like that.

In 1999 Nebraska witnessed a total of 102 tornadoes.

For bar owners it is illegal to sell beer without having a kettle of soup going at the same time.

One of the greatest Hall of Fame’s is located in Dannebrog; The National Liar’s Hall of Fame.

Mothers must have a state license in order to give their daughter a perm.

Seating 25 people is the largest porch spring in the world, in the town of Hebron.