History in the making

The History Nebraska Blog

Recent News and Posts

Select the terms

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 ...

An Old Cowboy Writes

"So I'll fix you greedy gluttons so you cannot feed your cows / So the crops all burned and withered; even grass it cannot grow" Cowboy poetry of the 1930s could get ...

Flashback Friday: Newspaper Portraits from 1888

In December 1888, the Lincoln Nebraska State Journal published four different articles about four different men, all published over four days. The only problem was they ...

The Goose-Powered Flying Machine

According to a letter published in 1891, all you need to fly up to 200 mph are 19 geese and a birch bark chariot. (more…)

The 1905 State Corn Contest

It may have been the Christmas season, but it was corn that was on everyone's mind in Lincoln in December of 1905. (more…)

Nebraska Next: The Fight to Enfranchise Nebraska Women

The photograph and artifacts featured above are just a sample of the items relating to the movement to ensure a woman’s right to vote in History Nebraska’s collection.  ...

Whitney Young Jr’s Time in Omaha

Before Whitney Young Jr was a nationally known civil rights leader, he was a local leader in the Omaha chapter of the National Urban League. (more…)

World’s Industrial and Cotton Exposition

The World's Industrial and Cotton Exposition opened in New Orleans on December 16, 1884. As the largest world's fair held in the United States to that date, it attracted ...

Yuletide in Knox County

"The holidays passed off at this place very enjoyably considering the hard times," the editor of the Niobrara Pioneer observed late ...

Ziegfeld Girls

Ziegfeld's Follies, stage spectaculars mounted by Broadway impresario Florenz "Flo" Ziegfeld from 1907 through 1931, featured prominent composers, elaborate costumes and ...

Flashback Friday: Army Laundresses

U.S. Army laundresses, often wives of senior enlisted men, were once given daily rations, quarters, fuel, bedding straw, and medical services. An article ...

Around the World on Wheels

In April of 1895 Mr. and Mrs. H. Darwin McIlrath pedaled west from Chicago, determined to circle the world on bicycles. During their journey, sponsored by ...

Help Shape History

Become a Member

Being a member is the easiest way to be involved in our mission to preserve and share our state's rich history. Find out how!

Volunteer

Volunteers work with History Nebraska staff members to support our mission

Start Your Career

Interested in joining the History Nebraska team? Keep an eye on job listings!
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.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

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.

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.