Nebraska History Podcast

Nebraska State Historical Society

The Nebraska History Podcast brings you the authors and articles from the Nebraska History Magazine. Join host Chris Goforth from the Nebraska State Historical Society as he welcomes authors from the magazine and presents previously published articles from the past in audiobook form. New episodes are available every other Thursday. Subscribe and enjoy Nebraska history during your commute, on your walk, in the cab of your truck, at your desk, in the field, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Every episode, discover the unique stories and moments of Nebraska's rich history.

  1. 5D AGO

    Training Sharpshooters in Nebraska

    Between 1882 and 1894, U.S. soldiers fired lead bullets bythe ton at the Department of the Platte’s target ranges, first located near Fort Omaha and later near Bellevue. In this episode, we learn of their story and how a system of target practice helped produce an “army of marksmen” in this 2016Nebraska History Magazine article, “Uncle Sam’s Sharpshooters”, written by James E. Potter.

    39 min

  2. OCT 23

    Czech-Americans: The Love of Liberty in Nebraska

    In the late 1800s to early 1900s, a large number of Czech immigrants found a new home in Nebraska. In this episode, we learn more about the Czech struggle for independence, explore their cultural life, and the persistent challenge of assimilation on the prairie through the 1993 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Czech-Americans: The Love of Liberty," written by Joseph G. Svoboda.

    36 min

  3. OCT 9

    Pike, Pawnee, and a Spanish Flag

    Hear the captivating history of Lieutenant Zebulon Pike's 1806 journey into what is now Nebraska and Kansas. Sent to solicit the allegiance of the Pawnee, Pike was instructed to persuade them to lower the Spanish flag, leading to a tense standoff as he continued his westward journey. Discover the story that later would give rise to the description of Nebraska's landscape as the "Great American Desert," and the dispute between Kansas and Nebraska over the exact location of Pike's council with the Pawnee chief. This episode is from the 1966 Nebraska History Magazine article titled "Zebulon Pike and Nebraska," written by Donald Jackson.

    30 min

  4. SEP 25

    Devil Wagons in Omaha

    In 1902, there were only a few automobiles, and they were viewed as luxuries for the wealthy. But year after year, more vehicles hit the road. In this episode, we revisit early 20th-century Omaha and explore how well the automobile was accepted into society and the expectations people had of drivers, as described in the 1980 Nebraska History Magazine article, "The Devil Wagon Comes to Omaha: The First Decade of the Automobile," written by Tommy R. Thompson.

    40 min

  5. SEP 11

    Trees in Nebraska???

    In 1820, Major Stephen H. Long described the Nebraska landscape as the Great American Desert, characterized by wide-open prairies and very little to no tree cover. Years later, efforts to change that landscape took hold thanks to key contributors to Nebraska's history. In this episode, we learn about the early efforts to encourage widespread tree cultivation in Nebraska in this 1972 Nebraska History Magazine Article, "Trees but no Timber: Prelude to the Timber Culture Act," by Burton J Williams.

    21 min

  6. AUG 28

    The Rise of Memorial Stadium

    Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium is one of the nation’s iconic college football venues. Its construction almost didn’t happen due to the severe economic challenges of the time. In this episode, we find out how a tribute to the state’s World War I veterans became a reality through the 1998 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Give Till it Hurts: Financing Memorial Stadium,” written by Michelle Fagan.

    44 min

  7. AUG 14

    Nebraska's 1897 UFO Mystery

    In 1897, numerous reports of an unusual phenomenon in the sky described what some thought to be a UFO. A ship with multiple lights, sometimes said to have wings, was spotted at night, beginning in Nebraska and spreading across the United States. What was it? This episode searches for the answer through the 1979 Nebraska History Magazine article, “This Mysterious Light Called an Airship,” by Roger Welsch.

    1h 2m

  8. JUL 31

    Denazification of German WWII Soldiers at Fort Robinson

    Podcast description: Fort Robinson in northwest Nebraska once served as a World War II prisoner of war camp. One of the war’s best-kept secrets was a special program meant to denazify German soldiers, implemented at camps across the country, including Fort Robinson. This episode explores this secret program through the 2005 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Still the Old Marlene: Hollywood at the Fort Robinson Prisoner of War Camp,” written by Melissa Marsh.

    47 min
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4.4
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The Nebraska History Podcast brings you the authors and articles from the Nebraska History Magazine. Join host Chris Goforth from the Nebraska State Historical Society as he welcomes authors from the magazine and presents previously published articles from the past in audiobook form. New episodes are available every other Thursday. Subscribe and enjoy Nebraska history during your commute, on your walk, in the cab of your truck, at your desk, in the field, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Every episode, discover the unique stories and moments of Nebraska's rich history.

Information

  • Creator
    Nebraska State Historical Society
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Nebraska State Historical Society
  • Show Website
    Nebraska History Podcast

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