History in the making

The Nebraska State Historical Society Blog

Recent News and Posts

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Cleaning Amelia Earhart’s Sporting License

The Conservators at the Ford Center work their magic on a piece of history from the Harry Truman Library: A sporting license given to Amelia Earhart in 1928. (more…)

Marker Monday: Nebraska’s Big Rodeo

Marker Text When Burwell residents put on a local rodeo in 1921, the event was so successful that they made it an annual affair and built a permanent ...

Making Rain

  Modern attempts at rainmaking, such as cloud seeding, may be more scientific and effective but are less flamboyant than former methods used by professional ...

How pioneer trails shaped Omaha streets

Everything has a historical context, even the roads you drive on. Omaha's Military Avenue has a history that stretches back to the 1847 Mormon road to Utah. (more…)

Marker Monday: Atlas D Missile Site A

Marker Text During the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union launched the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, in October 1957. A perceived “missile ...

The Woman on the White Horse

Eighteen-year-old Peggy Johnson had already known tragedy in her young life, but on horseback she felt free. Here is the personal story behind an iconic 1953 photo. ...

The Silver Bugs of 1896

The presidential campaign of 1896 was one of the most impassioned in US history. Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan, age 36, was revered as a godly hero and ...

Marker Monday: Japanese Balloon Bombs

  Marker Text During World War II the Japanese built some nine thousand hydrogen-filled, paper balloons to carry small bombs to North America, hoping to set ...

How they celebrated the Fourth of July in Bellevue when Nebraska was a new territory (1854)

  By David L. Bristow, Editor Nebraska was a newly-organized US territory in 1854. Not yet whittled down to its present boundaries, “Nebraska” was a ...

Help Shape History

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Volunteers work with NSHS staff members to support our mission

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

NSHS Education

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.

Listen to our Podcast

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.

Our YouTube Video Collection

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

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

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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.