Nebraska History Museum

10,000 years of history! Many people and cultures have made Nebraska their home. Come see fascinating artifacts and hear amazing stories from our rich past. Imagine building a state from scratch. That's the task Nebraskans faced 135 years ago, and their stories are the focus of a new permanent exhibit at the Society's Nebraska History Museum. Building the State examines the promise and problems encountered as people created the political, economic, and cultural systems that became Nebraska. Through period settings, artifacts, documents, and photos, Building the State illustrates the growth of Nebraska's towns, government, agriculture, ranching, industries, and inventions, along with changing technology, political and social movements, and the state's rich ethnic heritage from statehood in 1867 to the eve of World War I. A wealth of artifacts and photographs from the museum and library/archives collections offers visitors insight into the amazing transformation of Nebraska during this period.  The First Nebraskans exhibit interprets 10,000 years of American Indian life on the Plains. You will learn about the housing, foodways, clothing, and social customs of the tribes once living and still in Nebraska. The exhibit features prehistoric and historic tools, pottery, historic clothing, weapons, jewelry, musical instruments, and a Pawnee earthlodge, circa 1865. You will also find hands-on stations where you may touch bison fur and bones, pottery tools and shards, and reproduction trade goods from the 1700s.