Southeast Region
Southeast Nebraska Region — Story Block
The Southeast Nebraska Region lies along the Missouri River and the rolling hills that rise westward into the prairie. This corner of the state is Nebraska’s oldest settled area, where Native nations, explorers, and pioneers first converged. The Otoe-Missouria Tribe and other Indigenous peoples shaped the land long before the arrival of Lewis and Clark, whose expedition passed through in 1804. Their legacy endures in cultural sites, oral histories, and ongoing efforts to reconnect the Otoe-Missouria people with their homeland.
Settlement expanded rapidly in the mid‑1800s, with towns like Nebraska City, Brownville, Falls City, Beatrice, and Plattsmouth becoming centers of trade, river transport, and civic life. Nebraska City is celebrated as the birthplace of Arbor Day, and the Arbor Day Farm continues to honor that legacy with orchards, trails, and educational programs. Brownville, one of Nebraska’s earliest river towns, preserves historic buildings and hosts cultural festivals that draw visitors each year.
The region is also home to Lincoln, Nebraska’s capital city, where government, education, and culture converge. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the State Capitol, and attractions like the Sunken Gardens and Sheldon Museum of Art make Lincoln a hub of activity and heritage within the Southeast.
Outdoor recreation thrives along the Missouri River and in state parks such as Indian Cave State Park, known for its scenic bluffs, hiking trails, and prehistoric petroglyphs. The Lewis & Clark Visitor Center near Nebraska City highlights the expedition’s journey and the natural history of the river valley.
Annual events such as the AppleJack Festival in Nebraska City, the Homestead Days in Beatrice, and seasonal markets in towns across the region celebrate both history and community. These gatherings highlight the agricultural abundance and cultural traditions that continue to define Southeast Nebraska.
The region also remembers lost places — early river settlements, trading posts, and vanished post offices that once dotted the Missouri Valley. Though many have disappeared, their memory endures in cemeteries, markers, and local histories, reminding us that every community, large or small, contributed to the state’s beginnings.
The Southeast Nebraska Region stands as the state’s historic gateway — where Native heritage, pioneer settlement, and modern communities converge along the Missouri River to tell the story of Nebraska’s origins and growth.
