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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 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! Every episode, discover the unique stories and moments of Nebraska's rich history. Support the podcast at https://history.nebraska.gov/podcast.

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Check latest episodes from Nebraska History Podcast podcast

Ghost Counties of Nebraska

2026/10/22

With Halloween nearly upon us, today we dive into the fascinating topic of ghost counties. These weren’t boomtowns that dried up, but entire counties that only existed on paper. We explore how political battles, shifting borders, and a bit of frontier ambition left behind a trail of forgotten counties through the 1962 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Ghost Counties of Nebraska,” written by Norma Kidd Green.

Steamboating the Missouri River

2026/10/08

Before railroads and highways, stubborn little steamers battled snags, sandbars, and swift currents of the Missouri River to open the heart of the frontier. They carried settlers, soldiers, fortune‑seekers, and everyday cargo, and in doing so, helped build the towns and trade routes that shaped the Trans‑Mississippi West. Today, we explore the early days of travel along the Missouri River through the 1954 Nebraska History Magazine article “Steamboating on the Missouri River,” written by William J. Petersen.

When Nebraska Almost Became Kansas

2026/09/24

Imagine towns like Beatrice, Holdrege, and McCook being in Kansas instead of Nebraska. 🤯 It nearly happened! In the turbulent late 1850s, political frustrations south of the Platte River grew so intense that southern Nebraskans seriously considered breaking away and joining Kansas. In this episode, we dive into this fascinating near‑miss moment in our state’s history from the 1972 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Sectionalism in Nebraska: When Kansas Considered Annexing Southern Nebraska, 1856–1860” by David H. Price.

The Man Who Led Nebraska as the Beef State

2026/09/10

Today’s story traces the remarkable rise of Thomas Benton Hord, who not only built the nation's largest livestock feeding empire but also helped lay the foundation for Nebraska becoming the modern-day Beef State. We discover his story through the 2015 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Thomas B Hord: From the Open Range to the Largest Livestock Feeding Enterprise in the United States,” written by James E. Potter.

Glory of the Six- and Eight-Man Gridiron and Rural Nebraska

2026/08/27

With football season upon us, today’s episode dives into the spirited world of six- and eight-man football, a version of the game born from small-town grit and determination. We explore how the sport has shaped rural community identity and resilience through the 2019 Nebraska History Magazine Article, “Six and Eight Man Football and Community Identity in Nebraska,” written by Andrew Husa.

Nebraska Helps the Union Win the Civil War

2026/08/14

Today’s episode brings us the story of the First Nebraska Infantry and their role in a battle at Fort Donelson during the Civil War. Learn about their raw determination, facing freezing winds and fierce gunfire, as they fought to halt a Confederate victory through the 1964 Nebraska History Magazine article, “The First Nebraska Infantry Regiment and the Battle of Fort Donelson,” written by Benjamin Franklin Cooling.

Nebraska Flour Mills Through Time

2026/07/30

On this episode, we journey through the history of one of Nebraska’s key agricultural businesses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this era, more than 260 flour mills helped shape Nebraska communities. Today, we explore how these buildings evolved from modest mills to towering complexes through the 1985 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Nebraska Flour Mill Buildings, Structure, and Style, 1854-1936,” written by Tomas R. Buecker.

The Surrender of Crazy Horse and the End of the Great Sioux War

2026/07/16

Crazy Horse’s surrender at the Red Cloud Agency in May of 1877 marked the closing chapter of the Great Sioux War. In this episode, we explore how Lakota political traditions and the pull of family and community shaped his path from resistance to enter reservation life, revealing the decisions behind a defining moment in American history. Today, we explore the 1998 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Crazy Horse and the End of the Great Sioux War,” written by Kingsley M Bray.

Nebraska at America's Centennial Celebration

2026/07/02

This year, America is commemorating and celebrating its 250th anniversary. In today’s podcast, we travel back 150 years to America’s 100th anniversary celebration and Nebraska’s impressive appearance in the Centennial Exhibition through the 1976 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Nebraska in the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, 1876,” written by Anne P Diffendal.

Lewis and Clark Along Nebraska's River Road

2026/06/18

Between 1804 and 1806, explorers Lewis and Clark were sent out to determine what the United States had bought with the Louisiana Purchase. In this episode, we’ll follow their story along the Missouri River, where they got their first look at the region’s wildlife, terrain, and their encounter with the indigenous people of this area. Follow their travels through the 2000 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Lewis and Clark on the Middle Missouri,” written by Gary E Moulton.

The Battle of Television vs. Scotts Bluff

2026/06/04

The arrival of television in the Nebraska Panhandle in the 1950s sparked an unexpected showdown between state and local officials, an influential Wyoming broadcaster, and the National Park Service. Today, we learn more about the controversy through the 1996 Nebraska History Magazine Article, "Scotts Bluff National Monument and the Coming of Television to the Nebraska Panhandle," written by Phil Roberts.

From Nebraska to the German Skies of World War II

2026/05/21

Rediscover the remarkable true story of Second Lieutenant Elbert S. Wood, Jr, a young navigator whose final mission over Schweinfurt in 1943 became one of the most devastating air battles of World War II. We retrace his final flight, the crash, and the long journey home through the 1995 Nebraska History Magazine article, “Or Go Down in Flame: A Navigator’s Death of Schweinfurt,” written by his brother, W. Raymond Wood.

Born a King, Raised a Ford: The Early Life of President Gerald R. Ford

2026/05/07

Nebraska is the birth state of one U.S. President. In this episode, we revisit the remarkable story of President Gerald Ford, born Leslie King, Jr., in a grand Omaha mansion and shaped by a turbulent family history. We explore how a twist of fate carried him from a wealthy but troubled Omaha legacy to a loving adoptive family through the 1987 Nebraska History Magazine article, "President Gerald R Ford's Roots in Omaha," written by Edward L and Frederick H Schapsmeier.

The Real Story Behind Nebraska's Cowboys

2026/04/23

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.

The History and Wonder of Courthouse and Jail Rocks

2026/04/09

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.

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4.3 out of 5

12 reviews

★★★★☆

HGHHHSVoluntere 2024/12/01

Great job!

Great podcast for local history! Interesting and well put together. It would be nice is the audio was a bit slower (sometimes people tend to speak qui...

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