1541: Explorers claimed Nebraska for Spain 1682: French explorer Robert Cavelier claimed Nebraska for France 1803: U.S. acquired Nebraska from France in the Louisiana Purchase 1804: Lewis and Clark traveled up the Missouri River 1819: U.S. Army established Fort Atkinson, Nebraska's first military post
1823: First permanent white settlement built at Bellevue 1833: U.S. government purchased the Pawnee Indian lands, south of the
Platte River 1840s: Settlers by the tens of thousands traveled across the state,
following the Oregon Trail 1854: Nebraska Territory organized 1862: The Homestead Act encouraged new settlers from the east into
Nebraska 1867: Nebraska became a state 1868: Lincoln replaced Omaha as the state capitol 1877: The famed Indian warrior Crazy Horse surrendered, along with 1,000
of his followers near Camp Robinson. He was later killed 1898: The Mississippi International Exposition opened in Omaha 1939: Petroleum discovered in southeastern Nebraska 1942: Kingsley Dam completed, creating Lake McConaughy 1948: U.S. Strategic Air Commnad opened near Omaha 1992: The state began prohibiting large corporations from buying farmland
Nebraska Timeline History