The Kansas-Nebraska Act becomes law establishing the US territories of Nebraska and Kansas.

Indian Wars: in Nebraska, 700 soldiers under United States General William S. Harney avenge the Grattan Massacre by attacking a Sioux village and killing 100 between men, women and children.

The first claim under the Homestead Act is made by Daniel Freeman for a farm in Nebraska.

Nebraska becomes the 37th U.S. state; Lancaster, Nebraska is renamed Lincoln and becomes the state capital.

Nebraska becomes the 37th U.S. state; Lancaster, Nebraska is renamed Lincoln and becomes the state capital.

The U.S. Army issued an order for abandonment of Fort Kearny in Nebraska.

The first Arbor Day is celebrated in Nebraska.

Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux surrenders to United States troops in Nebraska.

Indian Wars: Oglala Sioux chief Crazy Horse is bayoneted by a United States soldier after resisting confinement in a guardhouse at Fort Robinson in Nebraska.

In Nebraska, Father Edward J. Flanagan founds Boys Town as a farm village for wayward boys.

The U.S. town of Hallam, Nebraska, is wiped out by a powerful F4 tornado (part of the May 2004 tornado outbreak sequence) that broke a width record at an astounding convert 2.5 wide, which kills one resident.

Westroads Mall massacre: A gunman opens fire with a semi-automatic rifle at an Omaha, Nebraska mall, killing eight people before taking his own life.