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.

  • Nebraska History Magazine (quarterly for History Nebraska members)
  • History Nebraska’s monthly email newsletter (full of history and the latest HN news)
  • Nebraska History Moments weekly emails (photo and short story)
  • Books

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

"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. 

Save the Buffalo

Some Nebraskans were aware of the values of wildlife conservation years before effective measures were enacted into law. The Daily Nebraska State Journal of Lincoln ...

Saving the State’s Money

An official review of Nebraska state expenditures in early 1908 uncovered several questionable purchases. The Nebraska State Journal on January 28, 1908, noted that the ...

Sawyer’s Timeline

Andrew J. Sawyer's Lincoln the Capitol City and Lancaster County, Nebraska, published in 1916, included a section entitled "Brief Happenings in Lancaster County ...

Searching for Prairie Gems

Compiled cookbooks, filled with recipes contributed by local cooks, have long been printed in Nebraska. These cookbooks present a fascinating look at what people cooked ...

Searching for Smuggled Hooch

U. S. Customs and Drug Enforcement Agency officials are kept busy these days searching for smuggled illegal drugs. Traffickers have hidden drugs in everything from ...

Second State Capitol

The first Nebraska state capitol, built in Lincoln in 1868 and 1869, was replaced by a second less than twenty years later. Because the first capitol was built so ...

Second Territorial Capitol

The second territorial capitol building was erected in Omaha in 1857-58 at a cost of about $130,000. Situated on what came to be called Capitol Hill, it continued to ...

Seeing Lincoln: Civil War Veterans Remember

Abraham Lincoln's birthday in February of 1925 was celebrated by the History Club of Kearney State Teachers College with a dinner attended not only by members of the ...

Seeing Nebraska by Train in 1877

What did 1877 Nebraska look like to a sophisticated European traveler? Ernst von Hesse-Wartegg of Austria was one of the most famous travel writers of the 19th century. ...

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, ...

Semicentennial of Nebraska

The semicentennial celebration of the admission of Nebraska into the Union took place in 1917 under the auspices of the Nebraska State Historical Society. Society ...

Senator Cody

It's that time in the political calendar when candidates and incumbents announce their intention to run for public office. Some names are brand new on the scene; other ...

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

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

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.