History in the making

The History Nebraska Blog

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Was J. Sterling Morton a racist? Here’s what the Arbor Day founder said and did.

By David L. Bristow, Editor, Nebraska History (Originally posted March 29, 2019)   On one level this is an easy question. Yes. Blatantly. In a loud and ...

2018 History Nebraska Award Winners

Our mission is to collect, preserve, and share Nebraska's rich history with all people. However, we're not in this alone. There are also everyday Nebraskans that make it ...

Funny, Weird, and Aggressively Wholesome: Valentine’s Day Cards in Our Collections

It's Valentines Day and we've been looking through our collections for the best card. Join us on this journey. Be warned, there's a bit of weird along the way. ...

Discovering High Plains Horsemanship through Nebraska Archeology

History Nebraska houses collections from archeological sites spanning 12,000 years of human history across the state. Recently, research on broken horse bones from our ...

NU at 150: What was the University of Nebraska like in the early days?

The University of Nebraska marks its 150th birthday on February 15. The legislature chartered the university on that day in 1869 (though classes didn’t begin until ...

Omaha in 1860

Omaha in 1860 was only a shadow of what it would later become. Henry E. Palmer, a native of Wisconsin, crossed the Missouri River to Omaha on a steam ferry in March of ...

Six Quick Nebraska Firsts

Here are some Nebraska "firsts," according to Nebraska newspaper columnist Will M. Maupin who published this list in 1930. 1. "The first railroad was laid by the Union ...

Mosby in Nebraska: “These Fences Must Come Down!”

John S. Mosby (1833-1916), the "Gray Ghost," commanded a Confederate cavalry unit during the Civil War. After the war he served as U.S. consul to Hong Kong (1878-1885) ...

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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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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.