On Sunday, did you join the estimated 111.3 million viewers tuned in to NBC to watch the Super Bowl?

                Some people watch for the love of the game; others tune in to critique the commercials; many view the half-time show as the best mini-concert you can see from the comfort of your favorite Lazy Boy lounger.

                If you watched, you helped set a record for the most-watched television show in U.S. history.

                But did you happen to catch the Nebraska connections?

                One of the biggest headlines happened right here, in the Cornhusker State. Okay, it actually happened if you lived in the KNOP-TV viewing area, the local NBC affiliate located in North Platte. It’s also the smallest NBC affiliate in the U.S.

                Billed as the best ad of the night, actor Will Ferrell stars in an Old Milwaukee beer commercial.  The “Anchorman” star walks through a field until he closes in on the camera. Then, someone off-camera tosses him a can of Old Milwaukee. Just as Ferrell pops the top and starts to say the brand name, the commercial cuts to static. Intentionally, of course.

                Ferrell’s commercial is part of a series of ads for the beer that run in only a handful of states. The actor approached the beverage company about making the commercials and industry insiders say Ferrell filmed them for free.

                Could the selected market relate to a certain NFL player? More later.

                Is there a Husker football connection with the game? Yes. Fifty-two Huskers have played in 33 games since the inaugural game. Mick Tingelhoff made four Super Bowl appearances for the Minnesota Vikings. Three former Huskers have each made three appearances: Roger Craig, Russ Hochstein, and Grant Wistrom.

                On Sunday, former Husker defensive player and first-round draft pick Prince Amukamara won his first Super Bowl ring. His appearance keeps the Husker Super Bowl streak alive and kicking at five.

                Prince saw considerable playing time, although I spied him getting burned on a critical fourth quarter play. Didn’t make a difference.

Once the celebration began, Amukamara was one of the last of the Giants to exit the field, posing for pics with fans and even celebrities, including Katy Perry.

                For me, the best Nebraska-Super Bowl storyline revolved around Patriot’s running back Danny Woodhead. He caught a crucial TD pass at the end of the first half, nabbed three other passes for gains, and ran the ball seven times for 18 yards.

                Woodhead, a North Platte gridiron star, wasn’t recruited by major schools. When the-coach-who-shall-remain-nameless refused to offer a scholarship to Lincoln, Woodhead rushed his way to the record at Chadron State.

                His great-to-greater-glory story has made him a New England fan favorite and endeared him to those who cheered for and followed his career back home.

                Had the Patriots won, it is possible that Woodhead would have been in the mix for the MVP award.

                Woodhead serves as a role model for perseverance, dedication, and hard work, attributes most likely credited to his Nebraska roots.        

                Perhaps the airing of Ferrell’s commercial in North Platte isn’t a coincidence.

            If you walked into the house I grew up in, undoubtedly you e heard music. Either the radio blared, a 45 or 33 spun on the record player, or an 8-track or cassette tape played.

            Music added another note to our family bond. Dad sang along with the radio every morning while we readied ourselves for school. Mom taught us childhood ditties. My sister and I argued over which record we’d listen to first . . . until our parents bought a second record player.

            It’s not surprising, then, that our family anticipated the Grammy Awards, presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Although the awards were established in 1958, the awards show wasn’t telecast live until 1971 on ABC. Before then, the 1959 show became an episode in the NBC Sunday Showcase series, which featured plays, variety shows and original made-for-TV dramas.

            Originally, both Los Angeles and New York hosted award ceremonies, with winners accepting the gold-plated, gilded gramophone statuette at one of the sites.  

            What’s the Nebraska connection? Ten musicians, artists, or producers with Nebraska ties have either won or been nominated for the award.

            The first Nebraska recipient hailed from Hebron. Kenneth L. Darby, a composer, and singer, won in 1959. Incidentally, Darby also won three Oscars for best score of a musical movie and best musical adaptation for his work on “The King and I,” “Porgy and Bess,” and “Camelot.”

            Hastings native Neal Hefti, a jazz trumpeter and composer, won the Grammy in 1966 as the composer for “Basie” and for his score for the “Batman” TV show. Hefti was also nominated as an artist on “Jazz Pops,” for the movie score from “Harlow,” and the TV score from “The Odd Couple.”

            Screen star Henry Fonda won a Grammy in 1977 in the Best Spoken Word category for “Great American Documents.”

            That same year, the Eagles won four awards, including Record of the Year for “Hotel California.” Scottsbluff-born Randy Meisner was a founding member of the group.

            In 1979, Paul H. Williams hit Grammy gold twice for “The Muppet Movie” soundtrack. He was also nominated for his work on “The Muppet Christmas Carol” in 1992.

            Bandleader Glenn Miller lived in North Platte. Three of his songs have been included in the Grammy Hall of Fame: “In the Mood,” “Moonlight Serenade,” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo.”

            Mannheim Steamroller’s Chip Davis, who lives in Omaha, was nominated in 1985 and won “Best New Age Recording” in 1990.

            Jazz artist Karrin Allyson lived in Omaha. She’s received three Grammy nominations during the last 15 years.

            Born in Lincoln, James Valentine heads pop group Maroon 5 as a guitarist. He’s nabbed two Grammys: 2005 Best New Artist and Best Group Pop Performance in 2006.

            Omaha’s Zachary Nipper isn’t a musician, but the graphic artist designed the cover for the Bright Eyes album “Cassadega” and won the Best Recording Package in 2008.

            While outsiders may not consider Nebraska a music hotbed, our claim to Grammy fame proves we have talented musicians in the middle of the heartland.

My sister’s text message equaled one word.

 “Earthquake!”

 I didn’t get too shook up about it. Laurie lives in San Diego and she sends that message whenever a sizable tremor rattles her neighborhood.

But her next message surprised me.

 “A 3.0 just hit Nebraska. Did you feel it?”

 While most may consider earthquakes a California phenomenon, Nebraska’s tremor testimony stretches back in time. The Nebraska Geological Survey estimates 50 quakes have rocked the state.

The first substantial earthquake felt in Nebraska occurred about a month after achieving statehood reports the U.S. Geological Survey. On April 24, 1867, a quake near Lawrence, Kansas affected much of the Cornhusker state. Since then, at least seven reports of seismic activity with an intensity V (Mercalli scale) or greater have centered within our borders. The intensity rating translates to a 4.0 or higher on the Richter scale.

On November 15, 1877, two shockwaves hit Nebraska about 45 minutes apart along the western edge of the Keweenawan mafic belt. Columbus, located northwest of the epicenter, suffered damage to courthouse and schoolhouse walls. The second wave released a surge of energy and lasted nearly 40 seconds in North Platte. Buildings swayed in Lincoln. Parts of the Dakotas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin experienced the eruption. The quake registered intensity VII and the event is considered Nebraska’s strongest earthquake.

Small, modest earthquakes struck throughout the next several decades. Near Battle Creek, an intensity V shook the bell towers of local churches and clattered dishes in many homes on July 28, 1902. During a single day in 1910, multiple rumblings shook houses in Columbus. In 1972, a 3.7 occurred near Basset. Residents of Ainsworth and Newport reported it, too.

 But several strong earth rattlers have hit Nebraska. In 1934 near Chadron, a 5.5 quake caused plaster to fall from walls. Canned goods and dishes wobbled from shelves. This event was felt as far away as Sterling, Colorado.

Close to Tecumseh, two earthquakes broke windows, cracked plaster, and damaged chimneys. The jolts came four minutes apart in 1935.

In March 1964, Nebraska, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming felt an awakening jolt. But six hours later, in the middle of the night, a 5.1 quake caused roadways south of Merriman to crack. The banks of the Niobrara River slid into the tranquil, flowing river. Damage rated as an intensity VII or very strong.

I’ve experienced two earthquakes, and both weren’t felt on the sandy beaches of San Diego. The first quake was centered between Center and Creighton. I taught in Wausa and a fellow teacher walked into my room and asked if felt the earthquake.

Um, no.

In fall 2002, on a Sunday afternoon, I thought a semi-truck was rounding the curve and hitting the brakes near our home in Neligh, until I noticed the ceiling fan swaying. A 4.3 quake hit northwest of O’Neill.

Even though Nebraska’s earthquakes haven’t been extremely destructive, the shake, rattle and roll are unnerving, making it difficult to imagine the earthquakes my sister has survived.

Have you experienced Nebraska shiver?

The Geological Survey tracks earthquakes in real time at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/.

New York has the Guggenheim and the MoMA. San Diego’s Balboa Park hosts the nation’s largest urban cultural park, home to 15 museums. Chicago lauds its exhibits: The Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Hull House. History and art enthusiasts revel at the delightful treasures displayed within these halls.

Nebraskans don’t have to travel across the Midwest or even to the coasts to visit top exhibitions. In our own back yards, historical societies, art foundations and educational groups have assembled some of the best collections around.

If you have never traveled Nebraska’s byways and stopped at some of our state’s quaint menageries, you have the opportunity to this weekend. The Smithsonian and Smithsonian Magazine welcome visitors for their 6^th annual National Museum Day.

And the good news: you don’t have to visit Washington D.C. to partake. Nine museums across the Cornhusker state are offering free admission with the required ticket, which can be retrieved at www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday.

What sites can you visit in Nebraska?

The Lincoln County Historical Society maintains a museum in North Platte. Inside, exhibits show what life is like in cattle country. The museum features railroad history, too. Several preserved outbuildings depict 1880s living.

At Kearney’s Buffalo County Historical Society and Trails and Rails Museum, visitors discover the history of the Overland and Mormon trails and the Union Pacific railroad along the Great Platte River Road.  Check out a locomotive and the depot, along with the Boyd Ranch House, the Freighters Hotel, a school house, 1898 church, and a log cabin.

Enjoy living history presentations? Visit the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island. In addition to the main building, saunter through Henry Fonda’s birthplace, a livery stable, blacksmith shop or the Silver Dollar Café. The museum also offers educational classes for parents and children. Its H.A.T.S. (Heritage Activities for Today’s Students) program, with grade level-appropriate activities, introduces learners to pioneer life.

Headed to this week’s Husker game? Since there’s a six o’clock kickoff, go early and visit three of Lincoln’s top treasures: the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, Nebraska History Museum and University of Nebraska State Museum. Discover the history of quilting, a 14-foot mammoth, or the amazing stories of our state’s ancestors.

The Cass County Historical Society Museum in Plattsmouth conveys the history of the county, which was settled in 1854. Steamboating on the Missouri, pioneer life, and agriculture production are highlighted.

In Omaha’s Union Station, The Durham Museum examines regional history. Celebrate the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, model trains, or the soda fountain.

Ever visited the oldest county museum in Nebraska? The Washington County Historical Museum in Ft. Calhoun contains prehistoric relics and Native American pieces. Objects from Fort Atkinson are also displayed.

Since I’m a history enthusiast, I’ve visited five of the nine museums participating in this weekend’s event. I’m amazed at the information and artifacts that explore the lives of those who lived here before us.

High quality exhibits exist here at home. Which museum will you visit and enrich your Nebraska knowledge?

Share your favorite Nebraska Museums at http://luannschindler.com.