Important People
Which Native American tribes originally lived in Nebraska?
The Omaha, Oto, Pawnee, and Ponca tribes lived in eastern Nebraska. The western part was home to the Sioux, and sometimes the Comanche and Cheyenne roamed the land.
What is the largest city in Illinois?
Chicago.
What crops are grown in Nebraska’s fertile soil?
Corn, wheat, and soybeans.
What is Illinois’s state insect?
The monarch butterfly.
What holiday in Nebraska promotes good stewardship of God's creation?
Arbor Day
Which U.S. president lived in Illinois before becoming famous?
Abraham Lincoln.
What is the largest train yard in the United States, and where is it located?
Bailey Yard is the world's largest train yard, and it is located in North Platte, Nebraska.
What do many Nebraskans who live in Omaha do for work?
Many Nebraskans in Omaha work in service industries, especially insurance.
What is Nebraska’s state tree?
The eastern cottonwood.
What foods is Chicago known for?
Chicago‑style pizza and Chicago‑style hot dogs.
Who started Arbor Day to encourage people to plant trees?
J. Sterling Morton.
What famous landmark in Chicago was once the tallest building in the world?
Willis Tower.
What renewable fuel is made from corn in Illinois?
Ethanol.
What is Illinois’s state reptile?
The painted turtle.
What event celebrates Nebraska’s people, animals, and traditions each year?
The Nebraska State Fair.
Which French explorers traveled through Illinois in the 1600s?
Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet.
What unusual monument in Alliance, Nebraska, is made of old cars?
Carhenge
What kinds of animals are raised on Nebraska farms?
Cattle, pigs, and sheep.
What major lake in Illinois is shown on the map?
Lake Shelbyville.
What popular food was invented in Nebraska?
The Reuben sandwich.
Who explored the land that became Nebraska after the Louisiana Purchase?
Lewis and Clark.
What is Chimney Rock, and why was it important to settlers traveling west?
Chimney Rock is a natural rock formation made of clay and volcanic ash with a tall chimney-like spire.
What natural area in Illinois protects tallgrass prairie?
The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
What shaped Nebraska’s land and provides water for farms?
The Ogallala Aquifer and the Missouri River.
Who invented Kool-Aid, where was he from, and what is its connection to Nebraska?
Edwin Perkins from Hastings, Nebraska, invented Kool-Aid, which became the state soft drink of Nebraska.