1. Nebraska became a state on March 1, 1867, but the first governor's inauguration didn't take place until December 28, 1867. David Butler was sworn in as the first governor of Nebraska in a ceremony held in the new state capitol building in Lincoln.

2. On December 28, 1922, a massive blizzard hit Nebraska, dumping as much as 24 inches of snow in some areas. The storm was responsible for 30 deaths and left many communities isolated for weeks.

3. The World War II prisoner of war camp, Camp Atlanta, was opened in Kearney, Nebraska, on December 28, 1942. The camp housed German prisoners of war who were captured in North Africa and Italy. At its peak, the camp held over 3,000 prisoners.

4. On December 28, 1978, a United Airlines Flight 173 crash-landed in Portland, Oregon, killing 10 people. One of the survivors was Nebraska native and football coach, Dick Tomey.

5. Nebraska native and Hall of Fame baseball player, Wade Boggs, hit his first major league home run on December 28, 1982. Boggs, who was born in Omaha, went on to have a successful career with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.