Pillen previews Nebraska's exhibit for America250 celebration in Washington D.C.

Gov. Jim Pillen on Monday previewed Nebraska’s exhibit at the Great American State Fair in Washington D.C. Each participating state will fill its own pavilion during the event that will honor the 250th birthday of the United States.

Stories of Chief Standing Bear and Arbor Day will highlight the history of Nebraska displayed at the nation’s capital. At a news conference, Pillen said he hopes the state will be remembered for the character of its people into the future.

“That's the thing that's important,” Pillen said. “Doesn't matter where we come from, it doesn't matter who we are, it's how we have each other's backs.”

In 1879, Ponca Chief Standing Bear successfully argued for the personhood of Native American people in Omaha federal court. Arbor Day was created in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska City to set aside a day for planting trees.

Daryl Bohac with the Nebraska State Historical Society said the organization’s foundation is managing funds for this event.

“There's always got to be a project manager behind everything, but the way this process is working ensures that all donations, regardless of whether it's fiscal or contribution by staff, are used for the intended purpose,” Bohac said.

The foundation has received more than $300,000 specifically for the Nebraska exhibit in Washington, foundation director Leslie Fattig told Nebraska Public Media News on Tuesday. No state or federal funding is being used for the project, she said.

Several industries and mainstays in Nebraska are sponsoring the state’s pavilion in D.C. including stakeholders in trucking, railroads, public power, irrigation, energy and Boys Town in Omaha.

The festivities at the Washington Mall in D.C. start June 25 and run through July 10.