History Nebraska

Publications

Who We Are

History Nebraska publishes works that explore Nebraska history and culture. Our readers range from professional historians to history buffs to curious people who simply find that learning about the past helps them better enjoy living and traveling here. We all share a passion for well-crafted historical writing.

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"Nebraska Timeline" Columns

From 1992 – 2019, History Nebraska wrote a series of articles for newspapers titled “Nebraska Timeline.” Below you can browse or search through those articles and discover interesting stories from Nebraska’s History. 

Melbourne, the Rainmaker

Frank Melbourne was one of the best known of a small group of rainmakers active in the Great Plains during the early 1890s. A native of Australia, he came west from Ohio ...

Memorial Day Parade

Memorial Day observances have long included parades in large and small Nebraska towns. Frisby L. Rasp, a young commercial business student studying at the Omaha Business ...

Memorial Stadium

Memorial Stadium on the University of Nebraska campus in Lincoln commemorates the service men and women of World War I. It was constructed without state funding and was ...

Metcalfe, Richard

Richard L. Metcalfe, Nebraska newspaperman, politician, and businessman, was a close associate of William Jennings Bryan and worked with Bryan on both the Omaha ...

Meteorites

Meteors ("falling stars") are objects that pass through the atmosphere, leaving a trail of light. A falling star that hits earth becomes a meteorite, usually composed of ...

Midland Pacific Railroad

Construction of the Midland Pacific Railroad, now a part of the Burlington system, was an attempt by Nebraska City to exploit the rich resources of the state's interior. ...

Millard Hotel Fire

The Mid-West Hotel Reporter (Omaha), of February 10, 1933, included a report, written shortly after the event, of the burning of Omaha's historic Millard Hotel. "With ...

Miller, George L.

Dr. George L. Miller (1830-1920), founder of the Omaha Daily Herald, which later became part of the Omaha World-Herald, arrived in Omaha in 1854, the year Nebraska ...

Missionaries to the Indians

Early attempts by missionaries to bring Christianity to Nebraska's Indian tribes were not successful. In 1833 a Baptist missionary, Moses Merrill and his wife Eliza, ...

Missionaries to the Pawnee

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions had first tried to minister to the Pawnee in 1834. After a dozen years of fruitless effort at a mission on the ...

Monarch’s Sad Fate

The sad end of a retired member of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West was announced by the Omaha Daily Bee on December 5, 1906. However, the article, headlined "Death Warrant ...

Mormon Summer Quarters

The establishment of winter Quarters by Mormons headed west in search of Zion in 1846 is well-known. It was located at present-day Florence, the northern-most suburb of ...

Contact Us

David Bristow | Publications
History Nebraska
1500 R St
Lincoln, NE 68508
402-471-4748
[email protected]
Information Services:
Looking for research help? Contact Library/Archives, the Museum, or Education. The Publications division is an editorial office; we don’t have archival collections or reference staff here.
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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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Nebraska Collections

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

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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.