One way we like to celebrate Creighton's rich (and occasionally weird) history is by culling our archives for interesting stories and nostalgia-inducing photos. Some of the stories are a little goofy, to say the least. Some highlight the texture of daily Creighton life over the years through our amazing students, alumni, faculty and staff. Others help explain the University's origin story and honor the vision and generosity of our founding family.
We'll continue to update our list of archive stories on the page throughout the Forward Blue campaign. Ideally, over time, the stories will form a more complete tapestry of a place and community unlike any other, and right at one of the most transformative moments in Creighton's history.
Quick note: None of this would be possible without the help and expertise of Creighton's University Archives.
How a Creighton couple’s crash-landing in the Amazon jungle led to the adventure of a lifetime
Stranded deep in the Brazilian jungle, hundreds of miles from civilization, a “green hell” in every direction, two alumni faced starvation, insect bites and life-threatening injuries. The crash was, they later said, a gift from God.
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The WWII ship named after Creighton University
Eighty years ago, in the spring and summer of 1945, the U.S. Navy christened and launched a 455-foot-long, 15,000-ton, 8,500-horsepower armed cargo ship named after Creighton University.
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The 25 biggest Creighton concerts ever
Creighton used to bring some of the biggest names in music to Omaha. Here are a few of our greatest hits.
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Celebrating wedding season with more Creighton alumni love stories
Whether you’re watching couples unite at weddings or you’re celebrating your own wonderful anniversaries this summer, you can feel it: Love is in the air. So, we asked a few Creighton couples to reflect on the special connections they share with their Bluejay partners.
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Love on the Mall: Eight stories of Creighton bringing couples together
Our popular feature returns with eight new stories detailing how Bluejays found one another and found love: a blind date, a surprise date, a non-date date after a decade away and more!
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The manure-flinging family feud that shaped the early days of Creighton
This is the story of how a mountain of feces came to take up residence next to Creighton and how the matter was finally resolved.
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A football stadium, the Flame, the walk signal and more: Our 2025 Creighton anniversaries
What was happening 100 years ago on campus? Or 30 years ago? Or five years ago? We’re recognizing key dates in Creighton history and spotlighting some of campus’ most iconic people and places.
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The history (and future) of the Kiewit Fitness Center
Here's a tribute to a space that’s been helping to keep Creighton students healthy for nearly 50 years.
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Creighton's Old Gym once sheltered 300 strangers in the middle of the night
Fifty years ago, a five-alarm fire at a downtown Omaha factory forced the evacuation of nearby residents. On a cold night, the Old Gym rapidly morphed into an emergency Red Cross shelter.
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The history of Creighton's swimming pool
Like most things at Creighton, the KFC pool is full of interesting historical tidbits if you look close enough.
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Alumni memories of Creighton's pool and swim teams
Following our recent deep history of Creighton's pool and swim team, several alumni reached out to share their memories.
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Saying Goodbye to Kiewit Hall
To celebrate Kiewit, we revisited its history and captured its legacy, telling stories about the incredible experiences that defined dorm life on each of its storied floors.
Years of fun and friendships at Kiewit Hall
Kiewit Hall means a lot to its former residents. We asked Creighton alumni to share some of the reasons why. Their stories capture the community spirit of Kiewit Hall.
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Creighton is reimagining its iconic original building
Creighton University’s original building is receiving its most comprehensive upgrade in more than 90 years.
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Creighton's role in the case of the greatest book thief in American history
Here’s the story of the Iowa man who swiped somewhere between 23,000 and 26,000 rare books and papers from at least 300 university libraries across the U.S. (and Canada), and the FBI investigation (code name: “The Omaha Project”) that turned 10 Creighton librarians into a makeshift team of academic detectives
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Creighton’s connection to the real-life Exorcist story
Three Jesuits leading the exorcism that inspired the film The Exorcist had strong ties to Creighton.
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Beal’s – the men, the grill, the legend
Today’s special: The story of Beal’s Grill. Pick a seat, grab a menu and dig into all the greasy glory of a dive that defined half a century of culinary life at Creighton.
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Alumni serve up their Beal’s memories
As we'd hoped, our big Beal’s Grill story stirred up and brought forth plenty of alumni memories of the old greasy-spoon diner. Here are a dozen of them.
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Creighton alum and his son helped transform the College World Series
As the College World Series celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, we recognize the forward-thinking of the Creighton graduate who brought the series to Omaha, and the son who continues the vision of his late father.
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Creighton's College World Series moment turns 30
To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of Creighton's first and so far only CWS appearance, we caught up with several players to talk about the magical season.
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The odd history of Creighton's fountain, the Mall and the nude sculpture
With all the changes taking shape and with it being the 30-year anniversary of the Eternal Flame, we thought now would be as good a time as any to celebrate one of the most — if not the most — iconic and beloved spots at Creighton.
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The Poopas of Gallagher Hall
In the fall semester of 1969, a group of women (mostly nursing and education majors) moved into Gallagher Hall, sparking a friendship that's still going strong more than half a century since freshman year. They call themselves the Poopas.
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Amelia Earhart: ‘Are there women in your medical college?’
Amelia Earhart visited Omaha 90 years ago and posed an important question to a Creightonian reporter. Read about the encounter between the world's most famous female aviator and a trailblazing Creighton alumna.
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'A turning point for women on campus’
Alumna Pat (Nastali) Alea, BA’67, found a copy of the speech she delivered at Kiewit Hall’s dedication ceremony in 1966. She reflects on that ceremony and the uplifting community of women who enjoyed the residence hall’s early days.
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A new history of Omaha (and Creighton) women
Eileen Wirth’s new history of notable Omaha women frequently reads as a history of notable Creighton women, as the stories of the city and the University are inextricably connected.
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The evolution of the Billy Bluejay mascot costume
Here is the definitive story of Billy Bluejay — the logo, the costume, the spirit of Creighton.
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Alumni talk about the game-changing experience of playing Billy Bluejay
We caught up with a few alumni to talk about how being Billy Bluejay colored their Creighton experience and even, in at least one case, defined the rest of their lives.
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Blue Couture — 100 years of Creighton fashion
We sifted through several decades of yearbooks and archive materials to see how our sense of style has evolved over Creighton’s history.
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How Edward Creighton united a nation
And brought America online.
And became the hero of a Hollywood Western.
And a comic book.
The Bomb, the Boss and the Jesuit
The story of Creighton's Jesuit astronomer Fr. William Rigge, SJ, who — in 1910 and 1911 — became one of the first expert witnesses in an American criminal trial.
Same name, different Creighton
24 Creightons that have nothing to do with OUR Creighton.
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The first ‘Creighton’ to attend Creighton University
The first Creighton student with the last name of Creighton was the first of 20 total in the University's history with either the given name or surname of Creighton.
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The snowiest day in Creighton history
One February day on Creighton's campus in 1965, it snowed. And kept snowing. Then, it snowed more. (There was a lot of snow.)
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The graduates: a history of Creighton commencement
We compiled a list of stats, facts and amusing anecdotes — a history of Creighton told through commencement.
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Creighton — how the campus found Christmas
Read about Creighton's history with the holiday — including some fun details about a wayward tree and a Grinch redeemed.
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Valentine's Jay — Love notes from 30 years of Creightonian classifieds
For decades, The Creightonian ran love notes in its classifieds leading up to Valentine’s Day. Many messages were heartwarming. Some were weird. A few should not be repeated.
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A collection of vintage Creighton postcards shows 100-plus years of campus history
We’d like to extend a hearty “Wish you were here!” with a collection of vintage postcards celebrating 100-plus years of Creighton history!
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Creighton's Christian Spirituality Program celebrates 50 years
Ahead of its semicentennial celebration in June, we examine the origins and evolutions of the Christian Spirituality Program and the impact of the late Fr. Richard Hauser, SJ.
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That time Creighton dentists gave a leopard a root canal in downtown Omaha
Fun fact: Creighton's dental school has a bit of a reputation for forming pioneers in the field of wild-animal dentistry.
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When Creighton almost closed the dental school (and how alumni saved it)
Eighty years ago, in May of 1945, Creighton University closed the School of Dentistry (founded in 1905), seemingly for good.
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World record easier bread than done
That time high winds foiled Creighton’s attempt to make the world’s longest sandwich.
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Bob Gibson: the only alum with seven different days named after him
Sixty years ago — on Oct. 15, 1964 — Bob Gibson led the St. Louis Cardinals to victory in a seven-game World Series against the New York Yankees. This would launch a lifetime's worth of Bob Gibson Days.
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Creighton at the Olympics
Creighton University has seen many, many great athletes over the years, but — according to our records — just eight Bluejays have competed in the Olympic Games.
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The Olympian who worked at Kiewit Fitness Center
Five nights a week for several years in the 1980s, the man who worked the front desk of the Kiewit Fitness Center was a former Olympian.
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The Creighton giant who helped invent the slam dunk
The story of Creighton University's lithe giant, whose team played the muddiest game of basketball in Olympic history.
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2024 anniversaries: Jays basketball edition
With the madness of March upon us, we’re continuing our Year of Years series of 2024 anniversaries with a Jays basketball edition.
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Photos: Creighton move-in through the years
Welcome to Creighton! Here are dozens of photos of Creighton students moving in to the residence halls, from the 1950s to 2020.
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More archives content
See even more stories and photos of Creighton history and campus life.
The Creighton alum who saved Batman
Alumnus William Dozier, Law’31, PhB’32, thought he wanted to be a Jesuit. Instead, he saved Batman and changed American pop culture forever.
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That time Adam West came to Creighton dressed as Batman
In 1989, the TV star came to Creighton to teach a class on “Batman 101.”
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The rise and fall and 'rise' of Creighton football
On a dreary day in December 1891, a hastily assembled team of Creighton students played the first organized game of football in Omaha’s history.
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The fall of Creighton football
Creighton football's program came to its end abruptly, then very gradually.
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That time Creighton's fake football team made national news and Fr. Morrison ran a touchdown on TV
This team was undefeated. This team had some of the best players in the country. This team wasn’t real.
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When Creighton met Internet: a love story
Back in the early ’90s, Creighton logged on and never looked back.
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New videos of Creighton … from the 1930s
A Creighton legacy family shared old campus footage with us dating back to the 1930s. We've shared clips of Creighton homecoming parades, football games and graduation ceremonies.
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Creighton's primetime TV-movie moment turns 25
That time 17 million people saw Creighton Hall because of a Shannen Doherty movie.
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Creighton Jesuit in Apple ad with Hall of Fame rock star
That time the Rev. Don Doll, SJ, and Todd Rundgren met in California for an Apple PowerBook advertisement that ran in Rolling Stone and Spin magazines.
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A Netflix series about Creighton?
The hypothetical Netflix series is only a dream at this point, but the screenplay’s author, one-time Creighton student Andy Kelly, 90, hasn’t given up hope.
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When Shirley came to Creighton
Shirley Chisholm — the first Black woman to run for President — is the subject of a new Netflix movie. Once, shortly after her seven-term tenure in the U.S. Congress, she visited Creighton.
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4 Academy Award winners who came to Creighton, plus other Oscar connections
Oscar nominees and winners who have come to Creighton, along with one alumnus who was one of the central figures in an Oscar-nominated documentary.
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