History in the making

The History Nebraska Blog

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Groundhog Day in Nebraska

 From the Kearney Daily Hub, January 30, 1932. “No doubt many of our readers in this locality are close observers of ‘signs,’” said the Nebraska Advertiser on February ...

At Work, Five Miles a Day, On a Scooter, In a Pipe?

If you asked most Americans what “traveling the hard way” was, what sort of answers would you get? Biking? Walking? Swimming? At NSHS, we have discovered another method ...

Skating Under Cover: Kearney’s Indoor Ice Rink

An ice skater was photographed on a frozen Sandhills lake in Cherry County by Solomon D. Butcher in 1901. NSHS RG2608-2913 (detail) (Left). Ice skating enthusiasts in ...

Gold Cure for the Liquor Habit

From the Kearney Daily Hub, January 16, 1893 (at left). Nebraska was home during the late nineteenth century to a number of local Keeley hospitals or treatment centers ...

Treasures from Nebraska Museums

The NSHS works hard to collect and preserve Nebraska history, but we don’t do it alone. Historical organizations and museums dot our ninety-three counties and contain ...

A New Year’s Eclipse

A New Year’s greeting card from 1888. NSHS 7631-54 (at left). The most memorable feature of New Year’s Day in Nebraska in 1889 was a solar eclipse that occurred between ...

A Midsummer Christmas Eve

This Christmas card from 1880 depicted a warm-weather scene similar to one actually experienced by Omahans on December 24 in 1889. Freakish weather is not unique ...

The Shoemaker’s Ashes

This example of a cinerary urn (at left) is from Hugo Erichsen’s The Cremation of the Dead (Detroit, 1887), published the year Edward Kuehl died. “Edward Kuehl, one of ...

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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.

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Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

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

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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.
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Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

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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.