Join Nebraska in celebrating America’s birthday

Be part of the largest volunteer event in U.S. history and honor the Semiquincentennial by giving back in your community. America Gives is an initiative that challenges businesses, non-profits, schools, youth groups, faith-based networks, and organizations of all kinds to build on America’s legacy of giving back and inspire a renewed culture of service for years to come. Whether pitching in to support our veterans and military families, or restoring nature trails, or mentoring youth, or picking up litter, or anything in between — there’s a way for everyone to give back with over 50,000+ opportunities nationwide.

The history of the land that becomes Nebraska begins long before 1776. Before we were a territory or a state, indigenous tribes and nations had been living here for thousands of years. Their stories, knowledge, and connections to the land formed the foundation of Nebraska’s story and endure today.

With the Louisiana Purchase bringing this land into the United States, change, opportunity, and conflict occurred. It also changed the trajectory of the land’s future.

Come explore the new The Our Nebraska: The Place, Its People, and Their Impact exhibit with 250 years of these layered, interconnected histories—the land, the people who have called it home, and their impact on our state, our nation, and beyond.

As part of Taste of America 250, the official food program of the nation’s 250th anniversary, Goldbelly and official food curator, Joe Ariel, invites Americans in all 50 states to nominate and vote on the dish that best represents their state now thru the end of 2026! These votes will be tabulated and culminate in the first-ever Official State Dish Registry, a permanent record of the foods that define each state’s identity, alongside state birds, state trees, and state flowers.

Outdoor Nebraska 250-Mile Challenge | Nebraska Game & Parks Commission

Participants should submit their mileage logs once they reach 250 miles. From Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, complete 250 miles of logged activities outside in Nebraska, such as walking, hiking, horseback riding, running, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hand cycling or kayaking.

Our American Story is a storytelling project to collect and preserve our nation’s unique stories. We’re on a historic journey to collect the largest archive of American stories ever created. Using the on-line tool Theirstory you can share your reflections and perspective on our nation. You can also nominate a living person whose story you think needs to be shared and preserved.