Douglas County Historical Society - Nebraska

09/06/2026

Just a quick reminder:
We are closed for Labor Day

The Douglas County Historical Society offices and Crook House Museum will be closed tomorrow, Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

As summer begins winding down, we hope everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the holiday, spend a little time with family and friends, and maybe squeeze in one last taste of summer. ☀️

We’ll be back to our regular schedule following the holiday and look forward to welcoming you again!

From all of us at the Douglas County Historical Society, have a safe and happy Labor Day! ❤️🤍💙

09/04/2026

FORT OMAHA AFTER DARK

Thursday, September 10 | 7:00–8:30 PM

📍 Front porch of the Crook House Museum
🎟️ $30 per person + tax - Limited tickets

Some places grow quiet after dark. Fort Omaha begins telling a different story.

After our very first Fort Omaha After Dark sold out almost immediately, we’re heading back for another evening of history, mystery, and the unexplained.

Join the Douglas County Historical Society and Jamie Nestroyl of Midwest Paranormal History Tours for a 90-minute historical paranormal walking tour through Fort Omaha and along historic Officers Row.

This is not a ghost hunt.

Fort Omaha After Dark explores the paranormal through a historical lens, taking you through the stories, experiences, and unexplained moments connected to this historic property.

As we make our way through the grounds, you’ll hear accounts that continue to spark curiosity and questions today.

Some will fascinate you.

Some may surprise you.

And a few just might give you goosebumps.

What happened here? What have people experienced over the years? And why do some stories connected to Fort Omaha still leave us without an easy explanation?

“After Dark” doesn’t necessarily mean it will be completely dark outside. It’s about experiencing Fort Omaha differently—as evening settles over the historic grounds and history, atmosphere, and the unexplained begin to intersect.

🌙 Thursday, September 10
⏰ 7:00–8:30 PM
🎟️ $30 per person + tax

Tickets are extremely limited, and our first Fort Omaha After Dark sold out almost immediately. If you want to join us, don’t wait!

GET YOUR TICKETS:
Scan the QR Code

Please note: This is an outdoor walking tour, and guests will be on their feet for the full 90 minutes. Comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended.

Due to limited capacity and high demand, all ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.

History leaves traces.
Some are easier to explain than others. 🌙

09/04/2026

🎙️ THE SECRET IS FINALLY OUT! 🎙️

Remember that picture of Tom wearing headphones and sitting in front of a microphone? Now we can finally spill the beans…

The Douglas County Historical Society has a brand-new podcast: History at the Round Table!

In our very first episode, we’re pulling up a chair and inviting you to get to know DCHS. Hear about the history and mission of our organization, meet the team working behind the scenes, learn what brought each of us here, and get a peek at some of the exciting events and programs coming up!

But this is only the beginning. We’ll be sitting down with fascinating guests to share incredible people, stories, and pieces of Douglas County history ... many of those special interviews will be available exclusively to DCHS members!

Not a member yet? Now is the perfect time to join so you don’t miss the conversations ahead.

The headphones are on. The microphones are ready. Pull up a chair and listen to Episode One of History at the Round Table now! 🎧👇

🔗 https://youtu.be/WMbiBF-TkiM

09/03/2026

09/01/2026

Before texts, emails, and instant communication, there was a wire stretching across a continent, and in 1861, building it was anything but simple.
First Telegraph Line Across the Continent takes readers directly onto the frontier through the remarkable diary of Charles Brown, a member of a crew constructing a segment of America’s first transcontinental telegraph line. Rediscovered in the collections
of the Smithsonian Institution, Brown’s previously unpublished diary is the only known extensive firsthand account of the day-to-day construction of this groundbreaking project.

And Brown had plenty to write about.

His lively observations capture the people and road ranches encountered along the way, the challenges facing construction crews, frontier law enforcement, period attitudes toward Native Americans, and the powerful influence of Manifest Destiny. All the while,
the country itself was being pulled apart by secession and the Civil War.

It’s a fascinating glimpse into a moment when new technology was about to change how quickly news could travel across America forever told by someone who was there helping string the wire.

If you love firsthand accounts, Western history, communication history, or discovering the stories tucked into America’s past, this one belongs on your reading list.
September Book of the Month Special
Regular Price: $14.95

With Code: $11.95

Discount Code: ONTHEWIRE

Pick up your copy this September and follow the wire across the continent, one diary entry at a time.

08/31/2026

🔍 It’s time for another 2-Minute Mystery!

We’ve headed back into the DCHS Library Archives and pulled out another mystery for you to solve!

Here’s how it works: watch the video, take a close look at the object we’re showing you, and tell us:

🧐 What is it?
🤔 And what was it used for?

That’s all you get from us. No description. No hints. No clues. The rest is up to you, history detectives!

You have until Friday, September 11 to make as many guesses as you’d like. We’ll reveal the answer then ... and a brand-new mystery will be waiting for you the following Monday.

🎥 Hit play, take your best guess, and drop it in the comments! 👇

08/30/2026

Closed for Labor Day

The Douglas County Historical Society offices and Crook House Museum will be closed Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

As summer begins winding down, we hope everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the holiday, spend a little time with family and friends, and maybe squeeze in one last taste of summer. ☀️

We’ll be back to our regular schedule following the holiday and look forward to welcoming you again!

From all of us at the Douglas County Historical Society, have a safe and happy Labor Day! ❤️🤍💙

08/29/2026

Ever Thought About Volunteering with DCHS?

Maybe you’ve visited the Crook House Museum and thought, “I’d love to be part of this place.”

Maybe you love gardening, enjoy meeting new people, or thrive on the energy of a great event. Or maybe you simply believe our community’s history is worth preserving and have been wondering how you can help.

Consider this your invitation. We’d love to have you!

Volunteering with the Douglas County Historical Society is about so much more than filling a shift. You become part of what makes this place come alive.

🌿 Imagine spending a morning in the gardens, helping care for the beautiful grounds surrounding the historic Crook House.

🏛️ Picture yourself greeting visitors, welcoming someone who may be stepping through our doors for the very first time. Sometimes a friendly face is what turns a museum visit into a wonderful memory.

🎉 Or join us at an event, helping behind the scenes as everything comes together. There’s plenty of teamwork, conversation, laughter and, yes, probably a little controlled chaos along the way!

And here’s the best part: you don’t have to be a historian. You don’t need to know everything about Douglas County. Bring your time, your interests and a willingness to help,we’ll take it from there.

Right now, we especially need volunteers for:

🌷 Gardens & Grounds
🏛️ Crook House Museum Greeters
🎉 Events & Programs

Whether you can volunteer regularly or simply lend a hand when your schedule allows, your time matters. Every hour helps us care for this special place, welcome visitors, offer programming and continue sharing the stories of Douglas County.

Along the way, you might learn something new, meet some wonderful people, make a few friends and find yourself becoming part of the history happening here today. ❤️

💌 Interested? douglascohistory.org/volunteer

Come help us care for the past while creating something meaningful for the future. We would love to have you join us!

08/28/2026

💄🔍 2-Minute Mystery: THE REVEAL!

It’s time to uncover the answer to our latest mystery object from the Douglas County Historical Society collection!

What looked like a tiny decorative object actually had a very glamorous purpose…

It’s a lipstick case! 💋

And not just any plain old lipstick case. This one features a beautiful pearl and rhinestone top, turning an everyday cosmetic into a rather stylish little accessory.

Stamped on the base is:

“Revlon 582”

Was 582 the must-have color of the day? Was there a fabulous shade of red hiding inside? Pink? Something a little more daring?

Who knows! Unfortunately, the lipstick itself is long gone, so this little case is keeping at least one part of its story a mystery. 😄

That’s one of the fun things about exploring our collection. Sometimes an object tells us exactly what it is, but still leaves behind just enough unanswered questions to make us curious about the person who once owned and used it.

Thanks for following along with another 2-Minute Mystery!

🔎 A new mystery is coming Monday. Maybe the next one will be a little easier… or maybe not. 👀

08/27/2026

Silent Sunday Has a New September Date!

Our September Silent Sunday Silent Book Club is getting a little calendar shuffle!

Instead of gathering on September 6, we’ll be meeting on:

📅 Sunday, September 20
⏰ 1:30–3:30 PM
📍 Crook House Museum

If you’ve never joined us for Silent Sunday, this may just become your new favorite way to spend a Sunday afternoon. ❤️

There’s no assigned book, no required reading, and no pressure to finish a chapter before you arrive. Bring whatever you’re currently reading; historical fiction, mystery, romance, biography, fantasy, nonfiction... we’re not checking. 😉 Then settle into the beautiful historic surroundings of the Crook House Museum for some uninterrupted reading time.

Come for the entire two hours or arrive whenever it works for you. Find a comfortable spot on the main floor of the Crook House or out in the gardens, open your book, and enjoy something we probably don’t give ourselves nearly enough of: a little quiet time to simply read.

📖 And don’t forget our Book Swap Table!

Have a book you’ve finished and would love to pass along? Bring it with you and see if another title catches your eye. Your next great read might already be waiting for you!

BYOB — Bring Your Own Book! 📚

Come alone, bring a friend, or bring your fellow book-loving crew.
Silent Sunday is about enjoying the quiet comfort of reading alongside other people who love books just as much as you do.

No awkward book discussion questions.
No assigned chapters.
No pretending you finished the book. 😂 (Oops!)
Just books, a historic house, beautiful gardens, and a peaceful Sunday afternoon.

🍂 September 20 | 1:30–3:30 PM
🏛️ Crook House Museum

Save the new date, grab your current read, and find your quiet at the Crook House. 📖❤️