History in the making
The Nebraska State Historical Society Blog
Recent News and Posts
Too Much Beef, a Nebraska Football Story
Early Nebraska football games could be a bit mismatched, but some were a bit more one-sided than others.
A December 9, 1895 game between York College and a local high ...
Flashback Friday: Timber Culture Act of 1873
The Timber Culture Act of 1873 was one of many land laws affecting Nebraska in the state's early days. It was also one of the most abused and least successful land laws ...
Texas Cattle Trade in Omaha
Soon after the end of the Civil War, Texas cattle began making their way north to Omaha. At first, the herds were 500 strong but by 1875 a herd of 4000 was fairly ...
Flashback Friday: A Surprising Foot Race
Foot racing was a popular sport in 1890s Nebraska. Sometimes things could get a little shady, like when a local favorite beat a supposedly famous competitor and walked ...
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 afterparty.
...
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.
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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.
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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 once 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 ...
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