14 Reasons Why People In Nebraska Should be Proud Of Their State

Did you realize how many ancient fossils are hanging out in Nebraska? Agate Fossil Beds, Ashfall Fossil Beds, and a ton of smaller sites have given up some spectacular specimens, including the world's largest woolly mammoth fossil. Did you know that camels and rhinos once lived here?

Being right in the middle of the country and relatively flat, Nebraska has seen more than its share of travelers. The Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, and California Trail all passed through here. Many of the travelers continued on to seek their futures elsewhere; some died along the way; and a portion of them put down roots in Nebraska and made a home right here on the plains.

Some Nebraskans consider this a well-kept secret since fewer tourists mean less crowding at our amazing state parks, breathtaking natural monuments, and unspoiled expanses of bountiful nature. But it's okay to brag about it - Nebraska's big enough for us all.

Tripadvisor named Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo the best zoo in the world. And there are plenty of reasons for that: the world's largest indoor desert, one of the world's largest indoor jungles, a killer aquarium where you can walk beneath swimming sharks, and more fun stuff than most people can get to in just one day.

Mention "Nebraska" to an out-of-stater and football will likely be the first thing to pop into their mind (...after corn. Always with the corn!). Memorial Stadium famously becomes the third largest "city" in Nebraska on game days, and those fans mean business. No, seriously - they bring a lot of money to Lincoln businesses, and that's a great thing even if you don't care for football.

Omaha has been the site of the CWS since 1950, and the event draws people from all over the state as well as all over the country. In fact, nearly half of the fans at the College World Series travel from out of state to watch the games.

In 1941, just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a train full of soldiers from the Nebraska Army National Guard was expected to make a stop in North Platte. A train eventually came through, but it wasn't full of Nebraska soldiers. Those waiting on the platform to see their friends and relatives happily gave the soldiers the gifts they'd brought for their own people before the train took off. The soldiers were touched by this act of kindness, and so were the people of North Platte. For the next five years, 125 communities and thousands of people donated their time, food, and money to ensure that soldiers traveling through North Platte on their way to war would leave with smiles on their faces.

Kool-Aid, strobe lights, the McRib, TV dinners, and folding election booths are among the many great contributions Nebraskan inventors have made to humanity. You're welcome, world.

Gallup surveys people from every state to find out who's happiest - and Nebraska snagged the #7 spot. That means that most of us feel a sense of purpose, we like our communities, we have satisfying social lives and we feel financially secure.

Maybe part of the reasons Nebraskans are so happy is that there's always something fun to do. Nebraskaland Days, the State Fair, Nebraska's Big Rodeo, Septemberfest, Crane Watch Days, Junk Jaunt...the list could go on for miles. No matter what you're interested in, Nebraska's got some big fun in store for you.