Nebraska is located in the United States of America. Nebraska can be found in the western part of the Midwest region of the U. S.
In this article, you will learn about where in the United States Nebraska is located, some fun facts about the state, and great places to visit while staying in Nebraska.
Where Is Nebraska?
Nebraska can be found in the 48 contiguous states in the southwestern part of the West North Central region.
It is surrounded in the north by South Dakota, in the east by Iowa and a small portion of Missouri, and in the south by Kansas, all Midwest states.
To the northwest of Nebraska lies Wyoming and to the southwest lies Colorado, both Mountain West states.
What Is the Dominant Industry in Nebraska?
Agriculture is the dominant industry in Nebraska with 25% of jobs in the state relating to the industry. Over 90% of Nebraska’s 77,000 square miles is farmland. Corn and livestock are the two major agricultural products produced by the state.
Nebraska is also rich in agritourism so visitors can get a feel for farm life with local markets and picking orchards or ranches with horseback riding and wildlife sightseeing.
What Are Some of the Most Unique Places to Visit in Nebraska?
If you are looking for a quirky place to stop on your trip to Nebraska, check out these three venues: Carhenge, the Lied Jungle, and the Ashland lighthouse.
Carhenge is a piece of modern art located in Alliance, Nebraska. The structure was built to replicate the famous Stonehenge and is constructed from 38 old automobiles.
The Lied Jungle can be found in the Henry Doorly Zoo located in Omaha, Nebraska. Its claim to fame is that it is the largest indoor rainforest covering approximately one and a half acres of land.
Over 75 years ago, a lighthouse was built by a roadside in Ashland, Nebraska despite the fact that not only is Nebraska nowhere near the ocean, but you would have to pass through at least states on any side in order to reach a bay, gulf, or ocean.
What Are Some Odd Nebraska Laws?
In the town of Lehigh, donut holes were outlawed for almost a century because they were deemed wasteful to produce. In the town of Blue Hill, it is illegal for a woman to eat onions in public while wearing a hat that would make a person shy.
What Are Some Popular Landmarks to Visit in Nebraska?
Among the most popular places to visit in Nebraska are Chimney Rock, the Cowboy Trail, and Scotts Bluff National Monument. Chimney Rock can be found in North Platte River Valley and rises over 400 feet above the surrounding prairies.
This sandstone formation is sacred to the Native Americans and marks an important reference point during the westward expansion.
The Cowboy Trail is almost 200 miles of recreational trail in northern Nebraska traversing across the plains and over numerous bridges including the scenic Valentine Bridge. This is a great place to hike, bike, or ride horseback.
Scotts Bluff National Monument boasts a series of bluffs which rise above the plains and provide many opportunities for hiking, sightseeing, and scenic car rides.
What Are Some Family Friendly Activities to Do in Nebraska?
From exploring the history of the pioneers to aquariums and zoos to cowboy experiences and fossil digging, Nebraska offers a multitude of family fun activities that will liven up any vacation.
Your family can delve into pioneering history by visiting parts of the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail Center in Historic Winter Quarters, the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, or the Archway in Kearney, Nebraska.
Nebraska also plays hosts to a few animal parks and viewing centers including the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Schramm Park State Recreation Area, Riverside Discovery Center, and the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
Your family will love to get a taste of cowboy culture by visiting the Cowboy Capital of the World in Ogallala and stopping in at the famous Crystal Palace Saloon. Other notable cowboy attractions include Dusty Trails for horseback rides, historic Boot Hill and the Pony Express Station, and the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park and State Recreation Area.
Home to the world’s largest mammoth skeleton on display, Nebraska has several great places to visit to satisfy your inner paleontologist including Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park, Agate Fossil Beds, and Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area.
What Are Some Scenic Car Trips to Take Through Nebraska?
Nebraska is host to some beautiful scenic byways across the wide open plains and past stunning rock formations.
These nine picturesque routes include the 385-Gold Rush Scenic Byway, Heritage Highway Scenic Byway, Lincoln Highway National Scenic and Historic Byway, Western Trails Scenic and Historic Byway, Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway, Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway, Loup Rivers Scenic Byway, Bridges to Buttes Scenic Byway, and Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway.
What Cultural Attractions Does Nebraska Have to Offer?
Nebraska is rich in culture and arts, hosting three Native American cultures, several famous literary authors, and multiple art museums, galleries, and playhouses.
There are three Native American reservations in Nebraska as well as numerous galleries, museums and attractions which feature and highlight the Native American cultures present.
Powwows held by the Winnebago, Santee, Ponca, and Omaha tribes are held in the summer in addition to the Fur Trade Days which celebrates the area’s key participation in fur trading.
You can take a literary tour of Nebraska and visit the homes of some of America’s famous authors including Mari Sandoz, Bess Streeter Aldrich, John G. Neihardt, and Willa Cather.
Nebraska is also home to many centers of art and entertainment such as the Omaha Community Playhouse, The Golden Husk theater, Mullens Art Center, Five Rocks Amphitheater, Sheldon Museum of Art, Lied Center for Performing Arts, Prairie Arts Center, International Quilt Museum, Red Cloud Opera House, Gallery: Art and Creativity Center, Old Market, and Joslyn Art Museum.
