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Nebraska State Historical Society

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Who We Are

The Nebraska State Historical Society 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, the Nebraska State Historical Society 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.

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Nebraska Territory – A Trip into the Interior, 1858

The Nebraska City News of June 17, 1858, included a letter from an unidentified traveler who had recently made "A Trip into the Interior," and wished to share ...
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Nebraska Territory, by D. A. Chapman

From a letter written June 13, 1854, by D. A. Chapman, correspondent of the Troy (New York) Whig, and reprinted in the New York Tribune, July 3, 1854: "I have just ...
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Nebraska University

Nebraska University in Washington County was chartered by the first Nebraska territorial legislature in 1855 and was operated from 1856 to 1872. It was a church-related, ...
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Nebraska’s First Aviation Meet

Aviation pioneer Glenn H. Curtiss (1878-1930) when just a teenager demonstrated mechanical ability that led him to experiment first with balloons and later with ...
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Nebraska’s First Motion Picture

The movie industry was in its infancy seventy-five years ago, but that didn't stop someenterprising Nebraskans from getting in on the ground floor. The Black Hills ...
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Nebraska’s First Secretary of Agriculture

When Clayton Yeutter was recently sworn in as Secretary of Agriculture, he assumed anoffice previously held by two other Nebraskans. Clifford Hardin filled the post from ...
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Nebraska’s First Territorial Capitol

The first legislature of Nebraska Territory was convened January 16, 1855, at Omaha in a brick building erected for the purpose by the Council Bluffs and Nebraska Ferry ...
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Nebraska’s Seventy-fifth, 1854-1929

The Diamond Jubilee celebrated by Nebraska in early November of 1929 didn't mark Nebraska's seventy-fifth year as a state, but its seventy-fifth as a political unit. The ...
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Nebraskans Loved Actress Sarah Bernhardt, Whether They Understood Her or Not (updated August 2018)

Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage actress of the 19th and early 20th century who as famous in her day as any big-name Hollywood actress in our own time. When she ...
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Nebraskans Urged to Help the Boers

Nebraska newspaper readers in late 1899 were keeping abreast of the latest reports from Africa, where the Second Boer War (1899-1902), pitting the British against the ...
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Neihardt Book Review

The Kansas City Journal-Post of February 28, 1926, informed its readers, "The Journal-Post has obtained the services of John G. Neihardt, the 'Middle Western Homer,' to ...
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Neihardt, John G.

John G. Neihardt (1881-1973), named Nebraska poet laureate in 1921, enjoyed a growing literary reputation as his epic poems were published. He had early in life ...
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Contact Us

David Bristow | Publications
Nebraska State Historical Society
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.

News and Events:
Looking for research help? Contact Follow the Nebraska State Historical Society on Facebook for event news, cool historical photos, and fascinating stories from the Nebraska State Historical Society blog. Members receive Nebraska History News.

About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 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 NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

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Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

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Chimney Rock
Fort Robinson
John Neihardt
Nebraska History Museum

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Neligh Mill
Senator Norris House
Thomas Kennard House
Historical Markers
Gift Shops

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 NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Museum Field Trips
Virtual Field Trips
Summer Workshops
Scout Merit Badge Workshops

NSHS Programs

Learn more about the programs associated with NSHS.

Historical Markers
Historical Marker Equity Program
National Register of Historic Places
Nebraska Hall of Fame
Semiquincentennial Commission

 

 

Nebraska Statewide Cemetery Registry
Willa Cather National Statuary Hall
Heritage Hero Award Recipients
Nebraska SHRAB

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

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

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

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

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Moving Images Inventories
Photo Collection List
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Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

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Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. 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.

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