Reading about Nebraska’s important historical events is always interesting, but there’s nothing like seeing history with your own eyes. These photos from our state’s history don’t depict any specific important event; they’re simply moments in time from a century ago.
- Two girls prepare for a snowball fight, 1910.
John Nelson of Erickson, Nebraska These girls in Erickson look less than thrilled with the snow - but look at those beautiful matching coats.
- Farmers take a trip into Lincoln on a Saturday afternoon, 1938.
Photogrammar/John Vachon Going into town must have been a welcome break from working in the October fields.
- A piece of bison-themed folk art in North Platte, 1938.
Photogrammar/John Vachon This mural in Buffalo Bill’s adopted hometown was painted long after the legend passed on, but it’s a striking piece of art that Buffalo Bill would have loved.
- A water tank is for sale in York, 1938.
Photogrammar/John Vachon This could easily be a picture from rural Nebraska today. What I really love about this is the beautiful handwriting on the tank.
- A Lancaster County farmer plants corn in his field, 1936.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein A lot of us are descended from farmers who had to do everything by hand or with very low-tech tools. It’s pretty amazing to think about how far farm technology has come in just a few generations.
- This Custer County girl shows off the size of these gourds, 1901.
flickr/IABI, S.D. Butcher Solomon Butcher produced one of the most extensive records of homesteaders in Nebraska. His images have been used to tell the story of our early days for more than a century. This moment in time seems to depict a girl at a market, or perhaps a fair, showing off some impressive produce.
- A sod house in Box Butte County, 1936.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein Early Nebraskans were hardy and resourceful. When they arrived to find no trees to cut down to build homes, they used sod instead. They reinforced those homes with whatever other materials were available, including metal, wood, plaster, and scraps from other projects.
- Chadron State Park, 1936.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein Chadron State Park was Nebraska’s first official state park, founded in 1921. It was still in its early days when this picture was taken in 1936, but it was already a favorite destination for Nebraskans and visitors.
- A small recreation area in the Pine Ridge area in Dawes County, 1936.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein This looks like such a terrific way to spend a warm May day. Look at that scenery in the background!
- A clever marketing stunt on the streets of Grand Island, 1922.
flickr/CharmaineZoe’s Marvelous Melange As a writer, I cringe at the grammar on this sign. As a lover of Nebraska history, I can’t help but adore the ingenuity of the folks who cooked up this scheme. The caption reads, “S.A. Hayman’s Radiophone Truck Stunt Which ‘Knocked ‘Em Dead’ in Grand Island, Neb., and Worked Wonders for the Lyda Theatre. The Broadcasting Was Done by Means of a Phonograph, but the Crowds Didn’t Know That.”
Nebraska has changed in so many ways in the past century, but even in these photos we can recognize the things that make us love our home so much. Which one was your favorite?
John Nelson of Erickson, Nebraska
These girls in Erickson look less than thrilled with the snow - but look at those beautiful matching coats.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
Going into town must have been a welcome break from working in the October fields.
This mural in Buffalo Bill’s adopted hometown was painted long after the legend passed on, but it’s a striking piece of art that Buffalo Bill would have loved.
This could easily be a picture from rural Nebraska today. What I really love about this is the beautiful handwriting on the tank.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
A lot of us are descended from farmers who had to do everything by hand or with very low-tech tools. It’s pretty amazing to think about how far farm technology has come in just a few generations.
flickr/IABI, S.D. Butcher
Solomon Butcher produced one of the most extensive records of homesteaders in Nebraska. His images have been used to tell the story of our early days for more than a century. This moment in time seems to depict a girl at a market, or perhaps a fair, showing off some impressive produce.
Early Nebraskans were hardy and resourceful. When they arrived to find no trees to cut down to build homes, they used sod instead. They reinforced those homes with whatever other materials were available, including metal, wood, plaster, and scraps from other projects.
Chadron State Park was Nebraska’s first official state park, founded in 1921. It was still in its early days when this picture was taken in 1936, but it was already a favorite destination for Nebraskans and visitors.
This looks like such a terrific way to spend a warm May day. Look at that scenery in the background!
flickr/CharmaineZoe’s Marvelous Melange
As a writer, I cringe at the grammar on this sign. As a lover of Nebraska history, I can’t help but adore the ingenuity of the folks who cooked up this scheme. The caption reads, “S.A. Hayman’s Radiophone Truck Stunt Which ‘Knocked ‘Em Dead’ in Grand Island, Neb., and Worked Wonders for the Lyda Theatre. The Broadcasting Was Done by Means of a Phonograph, but the Crowds Didn’t Know That.”
If you’re into vintage photos, why not take a look at 13 of the oldest photos taken in Nebraska?
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