History in the making

The Nebraska State Historical Society Blog

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Courthouse and Jail Rocks

By David L. Bristow, Editor   How were Courthouse and Jail Rocks formed? Imagine the North Platte Valley filled to the brim with land, as it once was. ...

Marker Monday: The Neligh Mills

Marker Text The Neligh Mills, built from locally fired brick in 1873 by John D. Neligh, was the first business and industry in the then newly platted town. Later owners ...

Arbor Day 1982

Here's a look back at 1982 when a man helps a group of children plant a tree in honor of Arbor Day. Arbor Day originated in Nebraska in 1872, when the State Board of ...

Journey to Freedom – Celia and Eliza Grayson’s escape from Nebraska slavery

Editor's note: Below is the first part of "Journey to Freedom from Nebraska Territory," from the Summer 2022 issue of Nebraska History Magazine. Read the complete ...

Arbor Day Ceremonies Plant New Trees at Schools

  Arbor Day originated in Nebraska in 1872 through the efforts of J. Sterling Morton and the State Board of Agriculture. The day became a legal holiday in ...

Marker Monday: Nebraska City

Marker Text Permanent settlement in this area dates from 1846, with the establishment of old Fort Kearny on Table Creek. Nebraska City, founded in 1854, became an ...

Nebraska’s 1921 Alien Land Law targeted Japanese immigrants

  In 1921 the state legislature passed a law barring noncitizens from owning rural land or leasing it longer than five years. Because Japanese immigrants ...

Gabriel Field—The Face of a Soldier

  By Patricia C. Gaster, Assistant Editor This article first appeared in the January-February-March 2010 issue of Nebraska History News, published by the ...

How to make corn mush (1861)

  By David L. Bristow, Editor Many Nebraska pioneers remembered living on cornmeal when there was little else to eat. Most common and easily prepared was ...

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About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 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 NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

Explore Nebraska

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

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Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

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

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Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

NSHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

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Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. 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.