Marking Time: Nebraska's Historic Places

A vivid, present-day look at historic places across Nebraska, this book is built around a simple idea. It's based on historical markers - those metal signs around the state that tell you that in such-and-such a year, some noteworthy thing happened near this spot. But photographers Bobbi and Steve Olson didn't set out to photograph signs. They set out to discover Nebraska, past and present. They write: "We have to admit that, like many Nebraska travelers, we didn't often take time to stop and read the historic markers along the road. And when we did stop, the paragraph or two of text didn't always answer our questions. We felt that we were missing something. And so our quest began. While traveling Nebraska on assignment for Nebraska Life Magazine, we made a point of pulling over and reading markers along the roadsides. Then, we ventured off the main roads in search of the stories and photos behind the markers. There are more than 400 of these stately metal road signs across Nebraska, erected by local residents and by the Nebraska State Historical Society to commemorate significant events in our past. We discovered that the markers are like time capsules waiting to be opened. They've been the starting point in a scavenger hunt that has taken us miles across Nebraska, searching for the prize. Clues were revealed in conversations with local people at coffee shops, diners, gas stations and county museums. The scenery and stories along the way were often as good as the destination. We hope you'll use this book to begin your own adventures discovering historic and modern-day Nebraska."