Lincoln History Facts and Timeline

(Lincoln, Nebraska - NE, USA)

The life and history of Lincoln is a political one, with the territory of Nebraska being inhabited by a number of different indigenous tribes for literally thousands of years. Many settlements chose to base themselves around the Platte River in particular, often being in very close proximity to the site of present-day Lincoln.

French-Canadian explorers arrived in Nebraska during the late 1730s, en route to Santa Fe, New Mexico. This was followed by the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804 to 1806), where army volunteers explored the western region of North America, starting at St. Louis, Missouri. They mapped their route and returned with their findings, reporting them to US President Thomas Jefferson.

It wasn't until the year 1819 that the state really saw any further activity from the European Americans. They set up their fortifications, named Fort Atkinson, roughly 65 miles / 105 km to the northeast of Lincoln. Around a decade later, the fort was abandoned and the army moved westwards.

The Founding of the Village of Lancaster

European American settlement of Nebraska really began in the latter part of the 1840s, around the time of the California Gold Rush (1848 to 1855). The territory of Nebraska came into being in 1854 and Lincoln was officially established in the year 1856, at which time it was actually named as Lancaster.

Omaha, located just over 50 miles / 80 km to the northeast of Lancaster (Lincoln), was the initial capital of the Nebraska territory, fighting off constant competition from the likes of Plattsmouth and Florence. However, when Nebraska joined the Union in 1867, becoming the 37th of the United States, the capital was subsequently relocated to Lancaster, due to its convenient westerly setting, south of the River Platte. It was decided to rename Lancaster at this time in history, both for political reasons and in honor of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who had recently been assassinated, in 1865.

Growth of Nebraska's State Capital

Many important events have taken place in Lincoln history since its founding. Soon after, in 1869, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln opened and this prestigious educational institution is now called home by approximately 25,000 students.

That same year, the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad arrived in Nebraska, along with the railroads of Atchison and Nebraska, Midland Pacific, and Omaha and Southwestern. It was therefore not long until Lincoln was connected with the most prominent cities and towns around the state.

From the 1870s onwards, crowds of immigrants arrived in Lincoln, quickly swelling the population. Swathes of prairie land were allocated for agricultural purposes, with modern barbed wire fences and giant steel plows making life easier for farmers.

In 1878, the Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in Lincoln to encourage all aspects of historical research, becoming a state institution just a few years later. The year 1887 saw the completion of the Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU), which expanded greatly in the early part of the 1900s and has since pioneered much groundbreaking research in the field of agriculture.

20th Century History in Lincoln

The Omaha, Lincoln and Beatrice Railway (OLB) was founded in the year 1903, and a decade later, the Lincoln Highway was built along the Platte River Valley, stretching for more than 400 miles / 644 km. Between the years of 1922 and 1932, the Nebraska State Capitol was finally built, and in 1923, funds were allocated for the building of the Memorial Stadium.

Lincoln Airport began its life in 1928 and ended up playing an integral part of World War II, when it was used as a military airfield. The Great Depression of the 1930s hit Lincoln and the entire state of Nebraska hard, with thousands suffering at the hands of unemployment during this period in history. In 1959, with tourism on the rise, local Arnott Folsom set about creating a zoo, designing the exhibits with children and families in mind. The Lincoln Children's Zoo (now named the Folsom Children's Zoo and Botanical Gardens) opened in 1965 and today remains a major tourist attraction in the city.

In the 1970s, the Lincoln Highway was planned, with Interstate I-80 being built alongside Highway US-30. At the end of the 1980s, Lincoln purchased the MoPac Trail from the Missouri Pacific Railroad and set about transforming this unused corridor into a trail for walking and cycling. The Lied Center for Performing Arts opened its doors for the very first time in 1990, the same year that the now famous Empyrean Brewing Company was founded in Lincoln.

More recently, in the new millennium, the baseball complex of Haymarket Park opened in 2001, while a new Amtrak train station was built in 2012, costing approximately US$1.3 million and being required due to the 2013 construction of the indoor Pinnacle Bank Arena. For more in the way of local heritage, be sure to pay a visit to the Museum of Nebraska History on 15th Street / P Street.