Nebraska History Podcast

Today, we ride back into the real history of Nebraska’s open‑range cowboys; hard‑working, underpaid young men who helped shape the frontier long before Hollywood myths took hold. In this episode, we explore their lives on horseback, the dangers they faced, and the communities they built through the 2013 Nebraska History Magazine article, “A Peculiar Set of Men: Nebraska Cowboys of the Open Range,” written by James E. Potter.

When travelers on the Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails passed through the panhandle of Nebraska, Chimney Rock was the most documented landmark on the journey.However, two other iconic landmarks helped guide travelers westward, Courthouse and Jail Rock. Today, we explore these two formations and how they captured the imaginations of pioneers through the 1962 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Courthouse and Jail Rocks: Landmarks on the Oregon Trail,” written by Earl R. Harris.

In the spring of 1890, a group of determined young Black waiters defied the odds, stepped onto a Lincoln ballfield, and briefly reshaped baseball on the Great Plains. Their talent, grit, and improbable rise caught the attention of early historian Solomon White, who later honored them as the first Black professional team in the West and praised their place in the game’s evolution. On this episode, we relive the story of this influential and forgotten team through the 2015 Nebraska History Magazine article, “The 1890 Lincoln Giants: Professional Baseball’s Unlikely Return to Nebraska’s Capital City,” written by Kent Morgan.

In 1928, when aviation was still wild and new, Nebraskan Ethel Tillotson chased her dream of becoming the first woman pilot in the state. Today, we learn about her bold story through the 1982 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Nebraska’s First Aviatrix: Ethel Ives Tillotson,” written by Darlene Ritter.

March 1st is statehood day in Nebraska, and in 2026, the state will celebrate 159 years as a state of the union. This bonus episode of the podcast takes a brief look at the history behind the Nebraska state motto through the 2010 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Equality Before the Law: Thoughts on the Origin of Nebraska’s State Motto,” written by James E. Potter.

Through the pages of the Omaha Star, Mildred Brown didn’t just report the news, she ignited a movement of boycotts and collective activism that predated the national stage. In this episode, we explore her work with the De Porres Club and their crusade through the 2010 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Mildred Brown and the De Porres Club: Collective Activism in Omaha, Nebraska’s Near North Side, 1947-1960,” written by Amy Helene Forss.

The Homestead Act promised free land, but the reality was a complex web of railroad bills, land grants, and legal hurdles. In this episode, we explore the laws and grit that built the Cornhusker state through the 1972 Nebraska History Magazine article, ‘Homesteading in Nebraska, 1862 through 1872,’ written by William H. Beezley.

In July 1862, a noisy, smoke-belching machine known as the ‘Prairie Motor’ rolled into Nebraska City. Though its journey lasted only three miles before a fateful breakdown, its legacy would reshape the trails of the American West.On today’s episode, we discover the story behind this ten-ton vehicle from the 1998 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Nebraska City’s Steam Wagon,” written by William E. Lass.

On April 15, 1912, the world watched in shock as the 'unsinkable' Titanic disappeared into the North Atlantic. Most of us know the global headlines, but there’s a much more personal side to the story for Nebraska.Today, we’re diving into lesser-known Nebraska connections to the disaster as written in the 1997 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Nebraska Connections to a Titanic Disaster,” written by Edward R. Tryon.

Senator George Norris was a man deeply rooted in the rural values of small-town America. As a congressman and senator from Nebraska, he leveraged his perspective to challenge corporate monopolies and became one of the most effective legislators in American history. Today, we explore his beliefs and character in this 1989 Nebraska History Magazine article titled “George W. Norris: A Reflective View,” written by Richard Lowitt.

Grace Abbott was a reformer who fought to end child labor, battled for immigration rights, and helped architect the Social Security Act. In today's episode, we learn more about the Nebraskan who became a champion to many through the 1975 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Grace Abbott of Nebraska," written by Lela B. Costin.

In the Golden Age of Hollywood, few names shone brighterthan Robert Taylor—the man critics called 'the man with the perfect face.' But long before he became a legend of the silver screen, he was a young man named Spangler Arlington Brugh, growing up in Gage County. In today’s episode, we chronicle his early life through the 1994 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Robert Taylor of Beatrice: The Nebraska Roots of a Hollywood Star,” written by E.A. Kral.

In 1872, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, and othersattempted to organize a grand buffalo hunt. The event came with various challenges and was ultimately deemed a failure. Today, we look back at the story and correspondence between the men organizing the event through the 2005 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, and the Grand Buffalo Hunt at Niagara Falls,” written by Joseph G. Rosa.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The trial of Mary Sheedy and alleged co-conspirator “Monday” McFarland for the murder of Mary’s husband, John Sheedy, caused an uproar. How could a middle-class woman of the Victorian Era commit adultery and murder in Lincoln, NebraskaWe return to the scene of the crime in this 2001 Nebraska History Magazine article titled “The Great Sheedy Murder Trial and the Booster Ethos of the Gilded Age in Lincoln,” written by Timothy R. Mahoney.

It was a plague of biblical proportions. Swarms of locusts assaulted crops, tools, and clothing. The events not only devastated farmers but also foreshadowed today’s expectations about the government’s role in responding to natural disasters. Today, we dive into the 2008 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Grasshoppered: America’s Response to the 1874 Rocky Mountain Locust Invasion,” written byAlexandra Wagner.

Horse racing was a popular sport in the American West. As preparations for the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago were being made, it was suggested that a grand horse race from the West to Chicago should take place.In this episode, we explore the planning, promotion, opposition, and story of the actual race itself through the 1972 Nebraska History Magazine article, "The Chadron-Chicago 1,000 Mile Cowboy Race," by William Deahl Jr.

Traveling shows were an extremely popular form of entertainment in the 20th century. In Nebraska, one man started a show that became one of the state's most popular productions. In this episode, explore the history of that show through a 2017 Nebraska History Magazine article titled "Walter Savidge Amusement Company" by Rebecca Buller.

Radio has always played a role in connecting people. Early homemaker radio programs, like Mary Moore Homemaker on WJAG in Norfolk, focused on providing content and support for the women in their listening areas.In this episode of the Nebraska History Podcast, we explore radio's impact in connecting with and influencing women in Nebraska through the 2019 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Stirring Up Conversation: The Radio Homemaker," by Mark Smith and Larry Walklin.

World War I unexpectedly triggered an agricultural boom in Nebraska, leading to the rise of a fascinating and intensive potash industry. This episode explores the impact of this boom on the state, from the rapid growth of new communities to the development of cutting-edge (and sometimes flawed) technologies used to extract this valuable resource. Join us as we share Richard E. Jensen's insightful 1987 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Nebraska's World War I Potash Industry," and reveal this unique period in Nebraska's past.

What did Crazy Horse look like? This Oglala Lakota leader's image has been the subject of much debate, as no confirmed photograph exists. Today, we explore the circumstances that prevented a photo from being taken and share firsthand accounts of his appearance through Randy Kane's 2018 article in Nebraska History Magazine, "What Did Crazy Horse Look Like?"

Grover Cleveland Alexander, a Hall of Fame pitcher from Elba, Nebraska, achieved legendary status in baseball but faced significant personal setbacks. Despite his remarkable baseball career, marked by National League records and a World Series championship, Alexander's life was also defined by struggles with alcoholism and health issues. We explore the contrast between his professional success and personal failures through the article, "His Own Worst Enemy: The Rise and Fall of Grover Cleveland Alexander," written by Andrea I. Paul in a 1990 issue of Nebraska History Magazine.

In this episode, we travel back to 1935, to a time when the Republican River transformed from a gentle stream into a raging force of nature. Join us as we explore the devastating flood that swept through the Republican River Valley, claiming 113 lives and reshaping the landscape of recovery and federal intervention in American life. We learn more through the 2016 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Gentle River Goes Mad: The Republican River Flood of 1935 and its New Deal Legacy" by Stacey Stubbs.

Join us as we explore the life of Susan LaFlesche Picotte, Nebraska’s first Native American physician, who served the Omaha tribe from 1865 to 1915. Author Valerie Sherer Mathes explores Picotte's pioneering medical career and advocacy for her community's rights. Discover how Picotte transformed healthcare and fought for justice. This article was originally published in a 1982 issue of Nebraska History Magazine titled "Susan La Flesche Picotte: Nebraska's Indian Physician."

The Nebraska statehood struggle revealed the significance of national Reconstruction policy on the level of local frontier politics. Nebraska's admission marked the first time Congress forced a "condition" upon a new state requiring it to acknowledge its power to set voting qualifications.In this episode, we dive deeper into the struggles of Nebraska's statehood through the 1988 Nebraska History Magazine article "Nebraska Statehood and Reconstruction" by James B. Potts.

Frederick Douglass, one of the most renowned leaders of the abolitionist movement, had an adopted sister, Ruth Cox Adams, who later lived in Nebraska. Her experiences may have influenced Douglass’s belief that the full liberation of Black Americans required the political empowerment of women.This episode explores this relationship through the 2010 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Always on My Mind: Frederick Douglass’s Nebraska Sister," by Tekla Ali Johnson, John R. Wunder, and Abigail B. Anderson.

Senator George Norris championed the unicameral legislature during the 1920s and 1930s, arguing for its advantages over the two-house system. In this episode, we explore Senator Norris's efforts to establish the unicameral in Nebraska in the 1964 Nebraska History Magazine article "George W. Norris: The Unicameral Legislature and the Progressive Ideal" by Robert F. Wesser.

On December 18, 1900, Pat Crowe and an associate kidnapped fifteen-year-old Edward A. Cudahy, Jr., son of a wealthy Omaha meat packer, and held him for $25,000 ransom. Since kidnapping had been an infrequent crime, Nebraska had no kidnapping statute. Because of this, Crowe was tried and acquitted on other charges. Although many professed outrage at the verdicts, Crowe had become something of a folk hero. In this episode, we explore this crime in the 1976 article titled “A Really Spectacular and Truly Named Desperado: Pat Crowe and the Cudahy Kidnapping” by Garneth Oldenkamp Peterson. #Crime #Omaha #Kidnapping

The Air Mail Service began between Washington D.C. and New York City in 1918. As a coast-to-coast service was being developed, Nebraska would become a key player in its completion. In this episode, we explore the early history of the Air Mail Service through the 2018 article, “Trail Above the Plains: Flying Airmail through Nebraska from 1920 to 1930 by Kathleen Alonso.

Many Christmas activities and unique holiday customs developed in Omaha in the 1850s. By 1980, beautiful downtown store window displays had disappeared, but a strong tradition of charitable work has endured for over a century. This look back at the history of Christmas in Omaha comes from the 1987 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Sales, Santa, and Good Fellows: Celebrating Christmas in Omaha," by Tommy Thompson.

Winters in Nebraska are hard to predict. Some bring seasonal weather with hardly a drop of precipitation, while others can bring snow storms threatening life and property. During the winter of 1948 and 49, Nebraskans learned to adapt and survive one of the worst seasons in Nebraska history. In this episode, we take a comprehensive, in-depth look at the impact of that winter through the 2002 article “I’m Never Going to be Snowbound Again: The Winter of 1948 and 49” by Harl Dalstrom.

Explorers and fur traders occasionally tested the shallow Platte's navigability in the nineteenth century. How many succeeded? What did they carry? Why did they stop? Railroads eventually made most river traffic obsolete, and the Platte served primarily as a source of irrigation water for crops. But there's more to the story. This episode is from Lawrence Allin's 1982 Nebraska History Magazine article "'A ⁠Mile Wide and an Inch Deep': Attempts to Navigate the Platte River."

Hastings, which had welcomed 20,000 people in a peaceful celebration of its history in 1939, had become a community in which residents called one another names in the local newspaper in 1942. The Naval Ammunition Depot built during the ensuing years caused the relatively insular community to suddenly accommodate a huge increase in population, which brought with it diverse social and ethnic groups for which it was unprepared. This episode is from Beverly Russell's 1995 Nebraska History Magazine article "World War II Boomtown: Hastings and the Naval Ammunition Depot."

The dream was of a great city in Nebraska—the future gateway to the entire American West. It would be the largest, most important urban center between Chicago and San Francisco. The dreamer was Dr. John Evans, a Chicago real estate tycoon and the namesake of Evanston, Illinois. Evans believed he had the vision and experience to make Oreapolis succeed. He failed. This episode is from the article "Oreapolis, Nebraska's Ghost City" by John Irwin, published in the 2020 Fall issue of Nebraska History Magazine.

In 1930, a daring heist rocked the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, and became the biggest bank heist in U.S. history for over two decades. Six unmasked robbers, taking advantage of an unguarded bank, walked away with a staggering two and a half million dollars. The audacious crime sent shockwaves through the community and law enforcement agencies alike. Despite arrests and the recovery of some stolen securities, the case was never fully solved. This episode is from the article, "Gangland Crime Arrives in Lincoln: The Lincoln National Bank and Trust Company Robbery of 1930⁠," written by Geroge Wilson and published in the Summer 1992 issue of Nebraska History Magazine.

As the US Army moved westward, military forts had to find ways to be more self-sufficient. This was the case at Fort Atkinson, Nebraska, among other locations nationwide. Their success varied, however, and officials expressed conflicting opinions about the appropriateness of soldiers spending their time farming. This episode is from the article, "To Plow, To Sow, To Reap, to Mow: The US Army Agriculture Program," written by Miller J Stewart and published in the Summer 1982 issue of Nebraska History Magazine.

In 2009, Michael Oriard’s book, “Bowled Over,” examined the effects of politics and social change on big-time college football during the past fifty years. The author of this episode’s 2010 article, Russ Crawford, investigates the issues of race, power, and money in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s storied football program. This episode features the 2010 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Nebraska Football and Michael Oriard's Bowled Over: A Review Essay," by Russ Crawford.

Lured by Marlon Brando's mother, actor Henry Fonda got his start at the Omaha Community Playhouse in 1925. Fonda maintained close ties with the Playhouse after his rise to stardom, and in time, his children Jane and Peter made their theatrical debuts there, too. Author Leo Adam Biga joins Chris Goforth to discuss his article and the significant relationship between the Fondas and their home state. The article was published in the Summer 2024 issue of Nebraska History Magazine.

Omaha radio station owner Todd Storz played a key role in pioneering the Top 40 format in the 1950s. He was a figure of national significance, permanently changing radio programming with an approach that was “vibrantly populist, crassly commercial, and undeniably young.” This episode is from the 2012 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Vox Populi of Omaha: Todd Storz and the Top 40 Radio Format in American Culture," written by Chris Rasmussen.

At Peru State College, on Tuesday morning, April 25, 1950, Professor Barney K Baker shot to death the college president, Dr William L Nicholas, and the head of the education division, Dr Paul Ammon Maxwell. He then went home and killed himself. The tragedy followed Dr Baker's being notified of his future dismissal from the college. This article investigates the circumstances surrounding his dismissal. The episode is from Nancy Handy Moran's 1988 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Tragedy at Peru State College: The Murders of William Nicholas and Paul Maxwell."

Ten of the twenty-three buffalo soldiers who received the Medal of Honor for actions in frontier conflicts or the Cuban Campaign of 1898 served at Fort Robinson. This episode introduces you to some of these heroes and how they earned the Medal of Honor. This episode is from the 1997 Nebraska History Magazine article, "Ten Troopers: Buffalo Soldier Medal of Honor Men Who Served at Fort Robinson" by Frank Schubert.

After many delays and some hurried final preparations, Nebraska was officially represented at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, marking the 100th birthday of the United States. Despite its small population, the youngest state (except for Colorado) made a creditable showing among the other states and territories, as well as foreign countries, that exhibited. This episode is from the article Nebraska in the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, 1876 by Anne P. Diffendal and was published in the Spring 1976 issue of Nebraska History Magazine.

Buffalo Bill Cody and Doc Carver were partners during the 1883 season of Cody and Carver’s Wild West, a touring outdoor western show. Their partnership dissolved after one year, and their bitter legal dispute over control of the name “Wild West” made them adversaries for the rest of their lives. In this episode, Chris Goforth brings you the article "Buffalo Bill Cody v. Doc Carver: The Battle over the Wild West," by Sandra K. Sagala, printed in the Spring 2004 issue of Nebraska History Magazine