Before there was a state there was a fair. It was called the Territorial and Mechanical Fair and was located in Nebraska City on the banks of the Missouri River in 1859.
Sheritha Jones Omaha World-Herald Chief Librarian
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2018: Avery Falcon of North Platte exits her ride during the Midwest Mutton Bustin’ event in the Five Points Bank Arena at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island.
1895: “Palace of the Arts” at the Nebraska State Fair in Omaha, held on the grounds later known as Ak-Sar-Ben.
2019: Fairgoers ride carnival rides in the Midway area at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island.
2019: The Platters perform during a concert in the Heartland Events Center during Older Nebraskans Day at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island.
1967: On Labor Day, the Nebraska State Fair had a record-setting attendance of 140,000 in Lincoln.
1951: Nebraska State Fair sideshows were always a Midway attraction at the fair. Here a young man, “hypnotized,” apparently is suspended as the carnival barker puts on his spiel. At left is a masked “frogman.”
2014: Two members of the Penguins of the Artic High Diving Show perform at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island.
2015: Steffani Jiroux and Matt Loeffelholz pick up a basket of deep-fried cinnamon rolls from King's Funnel Cakes for breakfast at the Nebraska State Fair. Both are Creighton University law students. Jiroux is wearing her crown and sash as Miss Heartland 2014.
Photos: Nebraska State Fair in the 1960s
Nebraska State Fair 1964
Ag Hall offered a spot where you could take a break from walking around the fairgrounds.
Nebraska State Fair 1964
Drivers and their crews prepare their cars in the infield of the horse track.
Nebraska State Fair 1964
The starter waves the green flag during races at the 1964 Nebraska State Fair.
Nebraska State Fair 1964
A vendor shows off his wares in 1964. Note the yardstick held by one of the people watching. People would always want to know where they could get a free yardstick.
Nebraska State Fair 1964
The midway was always popular with the kids.
Nebraska State Fair 1964
You could take a spin on the Paratrooper ride on the midway in 1964.
Nebraska State Fair 1964
Or ride around the fairgrounds on a stagecoach pulled by ponies.
Nebraska State Fair 1964
The Custer County 4-H clubs' produce entry in 1964.
Nebraska State Fair 1969
4-H produce entries line tables in the 4-H Building in 1969.
Nebraska State Fair 1969
The ring is full of entries during a 4-H dairy cow competition in 1969.
Nebraska State Fair 1969
The State Fair featured high school bands every day of the fair.
Nebraska State Fair 1969
The Game and Parks Commission fish tank was always a popular stop. Note the cotton candy stick floating in the tank.
Nebraska State Fair 1969
An aerial view of the open-air auditorium and the administration building (red-brick building) in 1969.
Nebraska State Fair 1969
The infield of the horse racing track featured a pond in the 1960s. Auto races were held during the fair, but as you can see from the trailers at the barns, there were plenty of horses on the grounds too. The Coliseum, now called the Ice Box, is to the right of the track grandstand.
Nebraska State Fair 1969
The midway and commercial exhibits took up all available space during the fair.
Nebraska State Fair 1969
Neon lights up the night on the midway in 1969.
