History in the making

The History Nebraska Blog

Recent News and Posts

Select the terms

Muddy Nebraska

Stuck in the mud near Bancroft, Nebraska. NSHS RG3334-1-56   It’s small consolation if you ever get stuck in the mud, but the fact is Nebraska has come a long ...

No More Ten-cent Shaves

This photograph of two barbers and their shop is from the Nebraska State Historical Society’s Dundy County Collection. NSHS RG3907-1-5 The idea of a man shaving himself ...

Steamboats Impractical in an Age of Railroads

Steamboat Red Cloud, 1873-1882. NSHS RG4997-69 The “Golden Age” of steamboating on the Missouri River was between 1850 and 1860. The outbreak of the Civil War retarded ...

Cigarettes in the Boudoir: Omaha’s Female Smokers in 1889

Nathaniel Currier’s 1847 lithograph depicted a reclining woman smoking a cigarette. NSHS 10645-4273 “From London comes the assurance that the duchess of Marlborough has ...

Beauty at the Keyboard

Solomon D. Butcher’s photograph depicted C. W. Roush, principal of the Broken Bow Business College, and his stenographer, Mable Holcomb, both with typewriters. NSHS ...

Taking the Plunge at Anoka

The Anoka Plunge Bath. NSHS RG3153-1-10 The “Hot Mineral Plunge Bath” at Anoka, Boyd County, fed by an artesian well, was constructed in 1907, just four years after the ...

Buffalo Bones Once Plentiful on Nebraska Prairie

Unloading buffalo bones at rail terminal, Dakota Territory, in 1885. NSHS RG1204-3-2 The slaughter of the buffalo left the prairie marked by millions of tons of their ...

No Irish Babies Born in Nebraska in 1912

When the Nebraska State Board of Health released statistics in December 1912 on various aspects of life in this state, it probably didn’t expect to provoke any ...

Help Shape History

Become a Member

Being a member is the easiest way to be involved in our mission to preserve and share our state's rich history. Find out how!

Volunteer

Volunteers work with History Nebraska staff members to support our mission

Start Your Career

Interested in joining the History Nebraska team? Keep an eye on job listings!
About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.
Nebraska Collections
History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.
Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.