1. Nebraska became a state: On September 16, 1867, Nebraska officially became the 37th U.S. state. The Nebraska Territory was established in 1854, and it took 13 years of effort to gain statehood.

2. First game at Memorial Stadium: On September 16, 1923, Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, hosted its first football game. The University of Nebraska defeated the University of Kansas 24-0 in front of a crowd of 31,000 fans.

3. Nebraska National Guard mobilized: On September 16, 1940, the Nebraska National Guard was mobilized in preparation for World War II. Many Nebraska soldiers served overseas during the war and helped to secure victories for the Allies.

4. World record mile: On September 16, 1967, Jim Ryun set a world record for the mile run at a track meet in Lincoln, Nebraska. He ran the mile in 3 minutes and 51.1 seconds, which stood as the world record for eight years.

5. University of Nebraska-Lincoln desegregation: On September 16, 1952, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln announced plans to desegregate its student body. The university admitted its first African American student, Clarence C. Lang, in 1953.