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The History Nebraska Blog

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Husband Wanted

Newspapers in the early 20th century played important roles in Nebraska communities. If the Gering Courier of 1908 is anything to go by, matchmaker was occasionally one ...

Flashback Friday: Irish in Lincoln, 1890

"There was an enthusiastic and well-attended meeting of the Lincoln branch of the Irish National league yesterday afternoon at Fitzgerald hall, Charles McGlave ...

The Horseless Delivery Truck

The advent of the horseless carriage revolutionized personal transportation for Nebraskans. The elimination of living, breathing horsepower similarly transformed the ...

Greetings from the 1930’s

The Sarpy County Agriculturist rang in 1930 with a blunt but timeless new year message: You were a disappointment last year, do better this time. (more…)

FDR’s Visit

Many national political candidates jet in and out of Nebraska without staying long. That was not the case when FDR came to visit in the fall of 1936. (more…)

Fire Fighting in 1878

Firefighting in 1800s Nebraska was never easy and frequently chaotic. (more…)

Crime on Streetcars

According to the Omaha Daily Bee in September 1875, robbing a street car was a two-step process. 1. Run the car off the track. 2. "Gobble the money box." (more…)

The Kearney Weekly Hub Celebrates the 1890 Census

The United States Census is an important — and constitutionally mandated — part of American life every ten years. Nebraska has seen fifteen of them come and go since ...

Parking Problems in the 1920s

Traffic congestion and parking woes in Nebraska's capital are nothing new. Lincoln newspapers were receiving letters from frustrated residents as early as the ...

Parachuting Accident

On July 3, 1893, thousands of people gathered at Courtland beach to watch 19-year-old Roy Elser make a parachute jump. Instead, they witnessed a tragedy. (more…)

“General” John O’Neill’s advice for new Nebraskans

In 1875, John O'Neill published a pamphlet saying two things. Come to Nebraska and bring money. (more…)

Omaha in 1860

When Henry Palmer of Wisconsin visited Omaha in 1860, he saw a city that was only a shadow of what it would become. Well, mostly what he saw was "prairie covered 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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