11 Surprising Things You'd Never, Ever Expect to Find in Nebraska
By Delana Lefevers|Published October 11, 2016
×
Delana Lefevers
Author
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
We’ve all heard the stereotypes about Nebraska: it’s flat, it’s boring, the people are all the same…none of them are true. Those of us who call this lovely state home know just how special it is and how wrong those generalizations are. But for the rest of the country – for the people who just have no idea what Nebraska is really like – we’d like to introduce you to some of the things you may not have known exist here in the Cornhusker State.
It's definitely not as big as the better-known Grand Canyon, but this place located along Route 6 just outside of Wauneta is absolutely breathtaking...and not the sort of sight most people would expect to find in Nebraska.
Nebraska used to be known as The Great American Desert. Early explorers and settlers came upon the Sandhills and proclaimed the land utterly useless. Of course, this "desert" isn't technically a desert - it's a region of grass-stabilized sand dunes.
Again, because people assume the state is so flat, no one really expects there to be places where waterfalls can exist. But we have a handful of big ones and tons of smaller ones, especially along the scenic Niobrara river. (Pictured is Smith Falls, near Valentine.)
It comes as a surprise to most out-of-staters that we actually have a national forest along with a few other forested areas. Are they the dense, dark forests that other states have? Well, no. But they're ours, and they're beautiful, and we love them.
Chalk it up to good old Nebraska quirkiness, but what began as an art project has become a somewhat major tourist attraction. It's a must-see for anyone traveling through the Alliance area.
This is another weird but wonderful Nebraska feature. In Seward, a businessman entombed everything from letters to cars in this massive time capsule, which is planned to be opened in 2025.
8. One of the most spectacular natural displays in the world
Every spring, 80 percent of the world's sandhill cranes make a stopover in Nebraska in the middle of their migration. Watching (and hearing) the migrating cranes is an experience that can't be put into words.
Right here in the heart of beef country, it's still possible to find eateries that cater to the animal-free diet. In fact, we have one of the best vegan restaurants in the country, Modern Love in Omaha.
Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha, has chosen to continue living here even after amassing vast wealth. His home is beautiful, but modest by billionaire standards. And we've heard he's an exceptionally nice guy, too.
We aren't surprised that Papillion, in Sarpy County, was named the second best place to live in America in 2015.
We’re all about breaking down barriers and getting the word out that Nebraska is an excellent place to visit and live. If you’re hungry for more Nebraska facts, check out these nine you may not have known.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
