museum live EPISODES

SEASOn 6 (2025-2026) 

Episode 1, 9/15/25
Theme: Constitution Day
In the first episode of the season, we celebrate the adoption and official signing of the U.S. Constitution, Professor Durham gives us the scoop on The Mayflower, and we’re joined by a special guest with the USS Constitution Museum in Boston!

Episode 2, 9/22/25
Theme: Hispanic Heritage Month
This week’s episode celebrates the culture and contributions made by Hispanic and Latino immigrants, including locally. What drew thousands and thousands of immigrants to Omaha in the 19th century? Our Exhibition Exploration segment takes a closer look. We’re also joined by a special guest from the Smithsonian, who takes viewers for a fascinating “ride,” and our Collections team shares items from the iconic stockyards of Omaha.

Episode 3, 9/29/25
Theme: Storytelling
This week, we open the pages to the art of storytelling. Our friends from Omaha Symphony and the National Museum of American History show us how stories can be told through music and objects. Meanwhile, the University of Nebraska State Museum discusses what fossils can teach us about the mammals that roamed these parts long ago. We’ll also stop by our one-room schoolhouse and our Native American exhibit for more storytelling exploration!

Episode 4, 10/6/25
Theme: Location and Place
We’re traveling to all corners in our Location and Place episode. A member of Boyd Jones construction company shares some neat history about Omaha’s old post office building. Our friends with the National Museum of American History shed light on a pair of historic lanterns, and we discover what drew settlers to Nebraska with the Nebraska State Historical Society. Plus, Professor Durham has a neat show-and-tell piece!

Episode 5, 10/13/25
Theme: From Telegraphs to Texting
This week’s episode is a blast from the past as we look at ways we communicated information in the 19th and 20th centuries. Professor Durham presents a telegraph from the 1870s (almost as old as him!), while our Exhibit Exploration segments highlight a printing press that had a lot to do with the way Omaha communicated with its residents. Our friends from the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. discuss the art of letters and mail while our Collections team highlights Sam Morris and an old telegraph device stored in the museum.

Episode 6, 10/20/25
Theme: Our Community’s Story
What’s the story with Omaha? This week’s episode journeys through the many chapters of the community’s history and progress. What did Omaha look like in 1854? One of our Exhibit Exploration segments takes a look. Meanwhile, we’re joined by our friends at Lauritzen Gardens, who share the root history of their location. Our Collections team highlights Omaha’s first auditorium and some historic objects related to the building. There’s more!

Episode 7, 10/27/25
Theme: Halloween
BOO! A spook-tacular episode awaits! This week, we celebrate Halloween by touring the museum’s trains, we mean haunted trains, while Professor Durham highlights a clown costume from our Collection. Speaking of costumes, we tour our three current featured exhibitions, engrained with unique textiles. This show definitely get’s you ready for trick-or-treat season!

Episode 8, 11/3/25
Theme: Full STEAM Ahead
Power those young minds! We’re gaining STEAM during this week’s episode, which highlights and celebrates science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Our friends from the Hastings Museum and University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History put their own spins on STEAM, while or Collections team showcases old typewriters from the museum. Our Exhibition Exploration segment highlights the math and art behind the design of our magnificent building, while Professor Durham gives the “big picture” on cameras!

Episode 9, 11/10/25
Theme: Native American Heritage Month
This week’s episode celebrates the history and significance of Native American peoples, and features some very special guests. We are joined by guests with the Mid-America All-Indian Museum in Wichita, Kansas, who share a fascinating story linked to the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Bluebird Cultural Initiative discusses tribes located in our own backyard, while the Nebraska State Historical Society shares neat objects from its collection, including two vintage trophies from Genoa Indian School. Our Exhibition Exploration segments highlight Chief Standing Bear’s impact and how Native American peoples built tipis to survive harsh conditions.

Episode 10, 11/17/25
Theme: Thanksgiving
This spirited episode gets you ready for one of our favorite holidays and its traditions. The Exhibition Exploration segment highlights our passenger train car and what it was like to celebrate Thanksgiving via train travel. We are joined by a special guest from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, who talks about a favorite Thanksgiving tradition — football! Our Collections team shows off a document from the 1700s, we visit some Buffett Store history and Professor Durham has a special announcement.

Episode 11, 12/1/25
Theme: Winter Weather
Brrrrr!! It’s getting cold out there, but luckily, you can enjoy this episode from the warm comfort of the classroom. Our friends from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History show us how we transported through winter weather in centuries past, and we explore a fossil from the Ice Age with our guests from University of Nebraska State Museum. Our Collections team shares skates from our basement collection, including a skate from the 1880s! Professor Durham also slides in with a neat object highlight, while our Exhibit Exploration segment discovers how Native American People survived the harsh winters.

Episode 12, 12/8/25
Theme: Electricity
Wow, do we have an electric show for you this week! We’re plugging in to the world of electricity. Our friends from the Smithsonian National History Museum of American History share old objects from the early days of electricity, while our very own Collection team provides a hair-raising show-and-tell experience. We’re also joined by Mr. E from Omaha Public Power District, who reveals how to power an entire city! We take a fun look at what it takes to light our beautiful 40-foot Christmas tree, and Professor Durham shows us a railway lantern that helped signal trains during our train station era.

Episode 13, 12/15/25
Theme: Holidays Around the World
Time for a festive finish to the fall season of Museum LIVE! Join us as we celebrate holidays around the world at Omaha’s home for the holidays, Union Station. We treat followers to our building’s rich Christmas history, which dates to the 1930s, and explore one of our favorite holiday exhibits, our Holiday Cultural Trees. Luke Schulte from Tri-Faith Initiative shares with us some unique religious holiday experiences. We also bid farewell to our favorite professor — Professor Durham (We told ourselves we wouldn’t cry!).

Episode 14, 1/5/26
Theme: Gold Rush
We’re back from Winter Break, and ready for a gold rush! Join us for this week’s episode, which digs into the history of an important part of America’s past and culture. We are thrilled to welcome guests from the Western Museum of Mining and History in Colorado and the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in California, who explore the origins of mining in the West. Back at the museum, we stop at our Conestoga wagon to share its place in Nebraska and the gold rush era, while our Collections team discusses Omaha’s role as an outfitter town.

Episode 15, 1/12/26
Theme: Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tune in for a very special and powerful episode, where we explore, honor and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King., Jr. We are honored to be join by a special guest with the National Civil Rights Museum, where we learn of the site’s significance to MLK. Our Exhibit Exploration segments explore Mildred Brown, a civil rights hero in Omaha, and the fallout of the Red Summer of 1919. Plus, enjoy a special re-enactment of King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

Episode 16, 1/26/26
Theme: Crops, Critters and Ancient Creatures
We hate to “bug” you, but we have a great episode this week, including special guests from the National Museum of American History, the Joslyn Art Museum and UNL’s Morrill Hall. See what we can learn from animals through artwork and discover what ancient animal roamed Nebraska 29 million years ago! Our Exhibit Exploration segment highlights the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Of course, enjoy the debut of our new co-host, Professor Daphne Durham, who has a fun show-and-tell for us.

Episode 17, 2/2/26
Theme: Black History Month
We honor the history, achievements and contributions of African Americans with a very special episode featuring guests from around the country. Momma’s Attic-African American History Center and Doll Museum shares what dolls can tell us about Black history, while the National Museum of African American History highlights notable milestones. We visit the historic Lorraine Motel with our friends from the National Civil Rights Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, while close to home, the Union for Contemporary Art showcases the photo talents of one of its members.

Episode 18, 2/9/26
Theme: Presidents Day
Get ready for a unique look at the history and impact of our Commanders in Chief. We are joined by special guests from the Allen County Public Library in Indiana and the Naval War College Museum in Rhode Island as we learn fun clues about Abraham Lincoln’s past. And did you know 31 U.S. presidents had military experience before taking office? We also discover what influenced President McKinley to visit Omaha in 1898, and how presidents utilized train travel, including here in Omaha!

Episode 19, 2/16/26
Theme: Symbols of the United States
Ready for an episode saluting the symbols, some small and some larger than life, of our country? Special guests from the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C., highlight symbols within the walls of their museum, while our own Collection Team spotlights a famous symbol from our Byron Reed Collection. We visit the museum’s one-room schoolhouse to seek out symbols related to learning during the pioneer days, and students will enjoy our symbols quiz!

Episode 20, 2/23/26
Theme: Statehood Day
We’re throwing a big birthday bash to celebrate Nebraska Statehood Day (March 1), so come along for the ride. The Nebraska State Historical Society shares three objects from Nebraska’s first days as a state, and the Museum of Nebraska Art tells us about the rich history behind its home. Our Exhibit Exploration segments take us to the Log Cabin to learn more about the Homestead Act, and we also highlight some of Nebraska’s notable landmarks … in LEGOs!!

Episode 21, 3/2/26
Theme: Remember the Ladies
Join us as we celebrate Women’s History Month with this special episode. We are joined by Christie Jones of Black Writing Project for a lesson on women in jazz, and our friends from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History show us a special object owned by the First Lady who coined the phrase “remember the ladies.” Peek into our model homes to discover what role women historically had at home and at work, and learn about local women who had a big impact during Omaha’s early days with the Collections Spotlight.

Episode 22, 3/9/26
Theme: Great Plains Traditions
Take a journey through the history and growth of the Great Plains. We’ll visit our covered wagon exhibition to learn how much this region has changed since the first settlers arrived. Our Collections Team shares some fascinating history (and items) on local theaters that flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries. We’re also joined by a special guest with the Douglas County Historical Society, who highlights some Nebraska traditions that you may be very familiar with.

Episode 23, 3/16/26
Theme: Pi Day
Join us for this educational (and delicious) episode as we learn how Pi(e) is all around us! Our friends from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History show us Pie themed books and The Sheldon Art Museum shares Pi (and pie) inspired artwork. Watch as our Education team discusses the history of the ratio of Pi and where examples can be found within the museum and our Collections Team teach us about an early mathematical tool from the 1800s.

Episode 24, 3/23/26
Theme: Sports
Love sports? Then you’ll want to grab a front-row seat for this week’s episode! Our friends from the Smithsonian take us to their sports and entertainment storage room to share some fascinating objects related to the Olympics. You’ll also enjoy some pigskin history with the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Our Exhibit Exploration segments take us to the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame exhibit, while we also discover the rich history of horse racing at Ak-Sar-Ben.

Episode 25, 3/30/26
Theme: A Day at the Fair
Join us for a day at the fair! The Smithsonian joins us with examples of parade costumes and floats, then take a look into the Omaha Children’s Museum’s Once Upon a Carnival exhibit. Our Exhibit Exploration segment explores the Golden Spike Days celebration and the Trans-Mississippi Expo while The Nebraska State Historical Society shares artifacts from the Nebraska State Fair.

Episode 26, 4/7/26
Theme: American Revolution
The United States is turning 250 years old in 2026, and for this episode we’re going back in time to celebrate America’s birthday. We’re joined by Revolutionary Spaces and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture to learn about notable Revolutionary figures and events. Then, our collections team takes us into the Byron Reed Collection for a look at Muster Rolls and other Revolutionary documents in the collection.

Episode 27, 4/13/26
Theme: Goods and Services
Take a trip through history to see how goods and services have evolved! Learn about the history of money with the National Museum of American and view some early coins and banknotes. Our friends from the World War II Museum teach us about shortages and how goods and services were rationed during the war. We also venture to our Buffett Grocery Store market to explain the history of grocery stores and our Exhibit Exploration segment takes us through our featured exhibit, The Negro Motorist Green Book, to learn about an important resource for Black Americans.

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