NEBRASKA

State of Nebraska

ORIGIN OF STATE NAME: From the Oto Indian word nebrathka, meaning "flat water" (for the Platte River). NICKNAME: The Cornhusker State. CAPITAL: Lincoln. ENTERED UNION: 1 March 1867 (37th). SONG: "Beautiful Nebraska." MOTTO: Equality Before the Law. FLAG: The great seal appears in the center in gold and silver on a field of blue. OFFICIAL SEAL: Agriculture is represented by a farmer's cabin, sheaves of wheat, and growing corn; the mechanic arts by a blacksmith. Above is the state motto; in the background, a steamboat plies the Missouri River and a train heads toward the Rockies. The scene is surrounded by the words "Great Seal of the State of Nebraska, March 1st 1867." BIRD: Western meadowlark. INSECT: Honeybee. FLOWER: Goldenrod. TREE: Western cottonwood. GRASS: Little bluestem. GEM: Blue agate. ROCK: Prairie agate. FOSSIL: Mammoth. LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., 3rd Monday in January; Presidents' Day, 3rd Monday in February; Arbor Day, 22 April; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, 4 July; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October; Veterans Day, 11 November; Thanksgiving, 4th Thursday in November and following Friday; Christmas Day, 25 December. TIME: 6 AM CST = noon GMT; 5 AM MST = noon GMT.