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The History Nebraska Blog

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The Telegraph Arrives at Brownville

When the so-called Lightning Line arrived in Brownville and connected Nebraska to the world, residents celebrated speeches, a parade, and a wine-fueled ...

A Tale of Domestic Woe and Divorce in 1900

Divorce suits can often be ugly. The Pries divorce in 1900s Omaha, which included child theft and a faked death, was especially dramatic. (more…)

Grand Island Sugar Palace

Nebraska's sugar beet production began in Grand Island in 1890. To commemorate the birth of a new industry, they threw a party and erected the Grand Island Sugar ...

J. Sterling Morton’s 1874 State Fair Appeal

J. Sterling Morton really wanted to spice up the 1874 State Fair. His solution? A massive exhibition of crops. (more…)

Should the Government Plant Trees?

The question of government supported tree planting arose a few times after the creation of Arbor Day in 1872. J. Sterling Morton, the holiday's founder, had pretty ...

Sidney, 1877

Sidney, Nebraska was prosperous enough when it was laid out in 1867. But one gold was discovered in the Black Hills, hundreds of people descended on the town, bringing ...

Seeing the Elephant

Diaries and letters from the Gold Rush year of 1849 often include references to "the elephant" or to "seeing the elephant," which refer not to a flesh-and-blood animal, ...

The Nebraska City Fire of 1860

When Nebraska City caught fire in 1860, it had no firefighting equipment and a shortage of water. It was one of the most disastrous fires in Nebraska's ...

A Nebraska Guidebook

The 1930s were hard times for many Nebraskans, but it was also a time of expanding horizons. Wider availability of cars meant more families could travel the state. To ...

Nebraska City, 1866

Nebraska City in 1866 was a veritable freighting metropolis. Wagons, oxen, mules, and people of all sorts hurried about to get "fitted out" to cross the plains.  ...

Kool-Aid

Fruit Smack ➡️ Kood-Ade ➡️ Kool-Aid. Nebraska's official soft drink has changed over the years, but its existence is all thanks to Edwin Perkins of Hastings, ...

Ice Cream Cones Seized, 1910

In August 1910, the Nebraska State Journal gleefully reported a record-breaking raid by US Marshals in Omaha. The confiscated goods? 185,000 ice cream cones. (more…)

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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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History Nebraska'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 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.