Nebraska State Historical Society

Publications

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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Our members make history happen.

"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.

Street Railways in Lincoln

The first street railway in Lincoln went into operation in 1883. The Daily State Journal on November 3 of that year included this account: "Mr. Durfee was busily ...

Strong, Anna Louise

Nebraska-born journalist Anna Louise Strong (1885-1970) was a prolific author with a wide readership. She wrote some thirty books and hundreds of newspaper and magazine ...

Students and the Saloon

Although dating from the 1870s, the city of Lincoln's preoccupation with the prohibition issue quickened in the first decade of the twentieth century. With the failure ...

Stunt Travelers

As transportation improved at the end of the nineteenth century, a new class of "stunt travelers" emerged. Probably the best known was Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane ...

Sugar Palace

The Grand Island Sugar Palace was erected in 1890 to commemorate the birth of the state's sugar beet industry. Patterned after the Sioux City Corn Palace, the building ...

Sullivan, John L., in Lincoln

Former world heavyweight boxing champion John L. Sullivan (1858-1918) visited Lincoln in 1893, a year after losing the championship to James J. "Gentleman Jim" Corbett. ...

Summer Recreation

During the summer of 1902 Omahans enjoyed many hot weather activities at area parks and resorts. The July 27, 1902, Omaha World-Herald (on microfilm at the Nebraska ...

Sunday Baseball

The Sunday afternoon baseball game seems as American as mom and apple pie. But in theearly 1900s, playing baseball on Sunday was not only regarded by some as ...

Sunday Closing Laws

Engaging in certain activities on Sunday was once illegal in Nebraska. J. D. Calhoun of the Lincoln Weekly Herald on November 22, 1890, protested the local ban on Sunday ...

Swisher, William B.

One of the most pronounced characteristics of Nebraskans has been an unwillingness to accept a dry year with no protest. Protests have been expressed politically (as in ...

Sydenham’s Praise of Central Nebraska

Moses Sydenham in an 1870 letter to George S. Harris, described Kearney, Adams, Clay, Webster, Franklin, and Lincoln counties. Harris was then land commissioner of the ...

T. R. Tours Nebraska

President George Bush's recent trip to Nebraska was a logistical tour-de-force. Thepresidential advance team, scads of Secret Service men, state and local police, ...

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.

Explore Nebraska

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

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.

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!

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.