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What We Found

In the Middle of a Prairie Fire, 1876

diary | fires | Phelps County | prarie | Rolf Johnson

Prairie fires were an ever-present danger in frontier Nebraska. Rolf Johnson of Phelps County knew this from experience. The Swedish immigrant provides a vivid ...

Buffalo

Buffalo | Great Plains | Horace Greeley | Overland | prarie

Overland travelers almost always made some mention of buffalo. The mere sight of so many animals in such vast herds amazed them. Estimates have placed the number of ...

A Tombstone and a Blizzard

Blizzard | Kearney Daily Hub | prarie | sod house | winter

Chicago man who tried to drive a buckboard twenty miles through a blizzard on the Nebraska prairie and his narrow escape from death. Many tales of ...

1901 Kearney Street Fair

Kearney | photography | prarie | Solomon Butcher | Street Fair

The Nebraska History Museum currently has an exhibit featuring the work of Solomon Butcher, open until June 1, 2020. Visit the museum and see some of Butcher's most ...

Hunting Wild Game on the Prairie

Frank A. Root | hunting | North Platte | prarie | wildlife

As they moved out onto the prairies, many European and American settlers were astonished by the abundance of game. This, of course, made hunting a popular pastime for ...

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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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