The United States government-designated Lincoln as a refugee-friendly city during the 1970s due to its stable economy, school systems, and size. A high amount of Vietnam refugees and others settled here because of its image.

A machine known as the Cosmo Ray was sold in Lincoln during the 1940s. It claimed to cure a wide array of ailments, including warts, ingrown toenails, jaundice, blood pressure problems, and even psychological problems by omitting unique ozone.

Mocked for being a “coward,” Nebraska’s congressman William Jennings Bryan was the odd but true inspiration behind Frank L. Baum’s characterization of the tough-but-tender Cowardly Lion in The Wizard Of Oz series.

In 1972, a University of Nebraska professor received a grant from the National Pork Producers Council to create restructured meats. By binding small pieces of meat together in shapes using salt and mechanics, the finished “product” resulted in popular processed food like dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and that infamous McRib sandwich.

Lincoln was once nicknamed Church City for the high number of churches in the area.

The nation’s first teller machine located off bank premises was developed in Lincoln, located at a grocery store courtesy counter.

The nationwide 911 emergency communication system was developed and first used in Lincoln.

Elephant Hall in Lincoln contains the biggest collection of elephant skeletons in the world.