<DIV>It has been home to the Lakota and Pawnee, to Buffalo Bill and the ?Great Commoner.” From its earliest days, Nebraska has held a strategic place in the history of the nation's westward expansion. The spirit of the state is visible in the faces of its pioneer settlers, its political and literary luminaries, and its epic landmarks. Historic Photos of Nebraska will take one back to 1880s sod houses and frontier forts, to one-room schoolhouses and laborers putting in a hard day's work. It includes faces of both the famous and the obscure, cityscapes from yesteryear and the farmers who helped build the state's agricultural heritage. The struggles caused by severe weather and economic downturns are chronicled here, as are moments of triumph and achievement. With nearly 200 black-and-white images reproduced in vivid detail and captions and introductions provided by a fifth-generation Nebraskan, this book strikes a tone that is sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, but always faithful to the soul of Nebraska.</div>