1. In 1861, Nebraska became the 37th state of the United States. On April 12 of that year, President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill that officially elevated the territory of Nebraska to statehood.

2. In 1935, the infamous "dust bowl" began in Nebraska and other states throughout the Great Plains region. April 12 marked the day that the first severe dust storm hit Nebraska, with winds of up to 60 miles per hour and clouds of dust that obscured the sun and turned the sky dark.

3. On April 12, 1898, Charles E. Bessey of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln succeeded in cultivating the first ever drip irrigation system. This invention would prove crucial to the development of agriculture in arid regions such as Nebraska, and would ultimately revolutionize farming around the world.

4. In 1943, a fire broke out at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant in Mead, causing the largest explosion in state history. The blast was felt over twenty miles away and destroyed nearly all of the plant's buildings. Miraculously, there were no fatalities, but the incident was a stark reminder of the dangers of wartime manufacturing.

5. Finally, on April 12, 1884, legendary Old West outlaw Jesse James was shot and killed by Robert Ford in St. Joseph, Missouri - less than 100 miles from the Nebraska border. James' many daring exploits had made him a household name throughout the nation, and news of his death was received with shock and fascination by millions.