Nebraska State Historical Society

Volunteer

A geometric logo features an interlocking dark teal "L" and orange "N" on a light gray background with a faint mountain outline.

Be A Volunteer

The Nebraska State Historical Society’s mission to “Open to all the histories we share” would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers. The time and talents of our volunteers help bring Nebraska’s stories to life.

Become a part of NSHS by volunteering in Lincoln, Omaha, or one of our historic sites around the state of Nebraska.

Requirements:

  • Must be at least 17 years old.
  • Engage positively and professionally with staff and patrons.
  • Time Requirements:
    • Positions range in their time commitment and the training involved. Training may include short training sessions with staff, artifact-handling sessions, mentoring, and other tutoring. The monthly hourly commitment varies per position. Please contact the volunteer coordinator with any questions.

Benefits of volunteering:

As a thank you for giving your experience, time, and skills. The Nebraska State Historical Society gives benefits to our volunteers.

  • Parking validation while volunteering
  • 20% discount at our stores
  • Invitations to special exhibits and openings
  • Opportunities for fun and educational tours
  • Interaction with great people
  • Volunteer appreciation activities
  • Opportunity to build your resume

How To Apply

It’s easy to apply! If you are interested in volunteering at the Nebraska State Historical Society, please fill out the form below. You can either apply to a position that interests you or the general volunteer pool. After you complete and submit the volunteer application, the volunteer office will keep your application on file for at least six months. If the position you apply to or a position that matches your application becomes available, you will be contacted about next steps, which will likely include an interview and onboarding session and contacting of your references.

FAQ’s

What training do I need?

All new volunteers will go through a short orientation with the volunteer coordinator. Specific training depends on the placement you are applying for. If you have questions about the training demands for a certain position or area of interest, please contact the volunteer coordinator.

Do I need to have a background check?

Yes, all new volunteers or volunteers who have not been with the organization for over a year will be required to complete a background check before they can begin volunteering.

Where can I see all the volunteer placements?

You can Click Here to see all the current volunteer positions available. Some positions will be labeled ongoing, meaning that these positions are always available. Other positions will be labeled limited, meaning that the position can only be filled by a limited number of volunteers or has a set completion date.

Who do I contact with questions?

You can reach out to the Membership and Volunteer Coordinator with any questions you may have at either nshs.volunteer@nebraska.gov or at 402-471-3272.

Current Volunteers

If you are a current volunteer, CLICK HERE to log in to your account.

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 Director Daryl Bohac. 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.