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, Nebraska

We 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.