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The Origins of the Husker Volleyball Team

The University of Nebraska women's volleyball team is known for its large fan base and its five national championships, but this wasn't always the case.  (more…)

Why John G. Neihardt was named Nebraska Poet Laureate in 1921

One hundred years ago, on April 18, 1921, the Nebraska state legislature became the first to name a state poet laureate, honoring forty-year-old John G. Neihardt of ...

1952 Huskerville Polio Outbreak

A small Lincoln community experienced a polio epidemic, but it was unclear what exactly caused the unusual outbreak. The mystery remained until a later study revealed a ...

Nebraska National Guard Mexican Border Service Medals

Collecting and studying military insignia for years, Mark D. Hunt found an obscure bronze medal that led him to research Nebraska's involvement in the United States' ...

2021 History Nebraska Awards

History Nebraska is proud to announce the winners of the 2021 History Nebraska Awards. (more…)

Husker football allowed only one radio broadcast per season in the 1930s

the history nebraska blog Cornhuskers with Head Coach Biff Jones, circa 1937. RG2758-100-57 By David L. Bristow, Editor Why did the University of Nebraska ...

A Review of Black History Month

A look back at posts from History Nebraska during Black History Month. (more…)

German Prisoners of War in Grand Island

Nebraska and other rural states faced a severe farm labor shortage during World War II. As hundreds of thousands of German prisoners of war began arriving in the US, ...

Drought, trains, and a chicken dinner: FDR’s 1936 campaign stop in Fremont

It was billed as a presidential tour of the drought-stricken areas of the Midwest, but President Franklin Roosevelt was in full campaign mode when his train stopped in ...

When Jell-O salad was a status symbol

We don’t have to explain that traditional Midwestern salads usually don’t include lettuce. “Salad” traditionally means some sort of fruit suspended in gelatin with ...

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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.
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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.

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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.