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The History Nebraska Blog

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Marker Monday: The Leavenworth and Pike’s Peak Express

Location Texas Ave, Stratton, Hitchcock County, Nebraska  40.148300, -101.2348 Marker Text In the spring of 1859 William H. Russell and John S. Jones ...

Vietnam: The Fight for the Land

Ken Burns’ latest documentary, “The Vietnam War,” premieres in September 2017. But in the early 1960s, Omaha TV station KMTV aired a special on Vietnam called “The Fight ...

Five Ways to Experience the History of Nebraska

#1 Chimney Rock Feel the awe and curiosity the pioneers experienced when they saw the most famous landmark on the Oregon, California, and Mormon ...

Hunger’s Coffin

By the start of the twentieth century the pain of death had been softened for many Americans. Professional undertakers, rather than family members, laid out and attended ...

Timeline Tuesday: 1889 New Year’s Day Eclipse

  New Year's Day in Omaha in 1889 was crisp but sunny. "The streets were thronged from 9 o'clock in the morning," said the Omaha Daily Bee on January 2. ...

Bedbugs

The current resurgence of bedbugs in the United States has brought the little pests once again into the limelight after decades of obscurity. Our pioneer ancestors, ...

John Gregory Bourke Photographs of Native Americans

Captain John Gregory Bourke, ca. 1893 [RG2955.PH000002] John Gregory Bourke was born in Philadelphia in 1846. He distinguished himself at the Civil War battle of Stones ...

Eli Ricker Wounded Knee interviews

Judge Eli S. Ricker of Chadron, Nebraska, April 1916, age 73. The button on his lapel says, "Votes for Women." [RG1227.PH000001-000002]   Eli Seavey Ricker was born in ...

The Mystery of the William A. Wolfe Atlas Collection

Forty years ago on August 1, 1977, I started my career in the library of the Nebraska State Historical Society.  The Library was located on the second floor of the ...

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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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Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

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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.
Nebraska Collections
History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.
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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.