diff --git a/client/src/components/History/History.vue b/client/src/components/History/History.vue
index bca0eb02ad2..5a6d3a2514b 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/History.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/History/History.vue
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 
                     <template v-slot:listcontrols>
                         <ContentOperations
-                            v-if="!history.empty"
                             :history="history"
                             :total-matches="payload.totalMatches"
                             :loading="loading"
@@ -56,9 +55,10 @@
                     </template>
 
                     <template v-slot:listing>
-                        <HistoryEmpty v-if="history.empty && payload.contents.length == 0" class="m-2" />
+                        <HistoryEmpty v-if="history.empty" class="m-2" />
+                        <HistoryEmpty v-else-if="payload && payload.noResults" message="No Results." class="m-2" />
                         <Scroller
-                            v-else
+                            v-else-if="payload"
                             :class="{ loadingBackground: loading }"
                             key-field="hid"
                             v-bind="payload"
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/HistoryEmpty.vue b/client/src/components/History/HistoryEmpty.vue
index 4317a69be6d..1b1d4f5b27c 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/HistoryEmpty.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/History/HistoryEmpty.vue
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 <template>
     <b-alert show>
-        <h4>
+        <h4 class="mb-1">
             <i class="fa fa-info-circle"></i>
-            <span v-localize>This history is empty.</span>
+            <span>{{ message | l }}</span>
         </h4>
         <p>
             <a href="#" @click.prevent="openGlobalUploadModal" v-localize>You can load your own data</a> or
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
 import { openGlobalUploadModal } from "components/Upload";
 
 export default {
+    props: {
+        message: { type: String, default: "This history is empty." },
+    },
     methods: {
         openGlobalUploadModal,
         clickDataLink() {
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/Scroller.vue b/client/src/components/History/Scroller.vue
index bce121ce72b..1e986041090 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/Scroller.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/History/Scroller.vue
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 <script>
 import { debounce } from "lodash";
 import { SearchParams } from "./model";
+import { clamp } from "utils/math";
 
 const clean = (o) => JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(o));
 
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ export default {
 
         // need to dynamically calculate width
         scrollSliderContainerStyles() {
-            const w = this.sbWidth;
+            const w = this.sbWidth + 1;
             return { width: `${w}px` };
         },
 
@@ -182,19 +183,11 @@ export default {
             // no wheel if list too short to warrant a scroll bar
             // let the browser figure that out
             if (this.showScroller) {
-                if (deltaY > 0) this.wheelDown();
-                if (deltaY < 0) this.wheelUp();
+                const n = deltaY == 0 ? 0 : Math.abs(deltaY) / deltaY;
+                this.manualStartIndex = clamp(this.itemStartIndex + n, 0, this.totalMatches - 1);
             }
         },
 
-        wheelDown(n = 1) {
-            this.manualStartIndex = Math.min(this.itemStartIndex + n, this.totalMatches - 1);
-        },
-
-        wheelUp(n = 1) {
-            this.manualStartIndex = Math.max(0, this.itemStartIndex - n);
-        },
-
         // move to whole new regions with the scrollbar, takes the percentage
         // of the height of the fake placeholder box and turns that into a 0-1
         // value which we send out on scrollPos
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/adapters/HistoryPanelProxy.js b/client/src/components/History/adapters/HistoryPanelProxy.js
index 75583b0e78f..66dc13d49fc 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/adapters/HistoryPanelProxy.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/adapters/HistoryPanelProxy.js
@@ -63,11 +63,16 @@ export const HistoryPanelProxy = Backbone.View.extend({
         });
 
         // Watch the store, change the fake history model when it changs
-        store.subscribe(({ type, payload: newId }) => {
-            if (type == "betaHistory/setCurrentHistoryId") {
-                Galaxy.currHistoryPanel.setModel(new History({ id: newId }));
+        store.watch(
+            (st, gets) => gets["betaHistory/currentHistory"],
+            (history) => {
+                const panel = Galaxy.currHistoryPanel;
+                const existingId = panel?.model?.id || undefined;
+                if (existingId != history.id) {
+                    panel.setModel(new History({ id: history.id }));
+                }
             }
-        });
+        );
     },
     render() {
         // Hack: For now, remove unused "unified-panel" elements until we can
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/caching/loadHistoryContents.js b/client/src/components/History/caching/loadHistoryContents.js
index a4a2f913764..533081ca52e 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/caching/loadHistoryContents.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/caching/loadHistoryContents.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { zip } from "rxjs";
-import { map, pluck, share } from "rxjs/operators";
+import { map, pluck, share, filter } from "rxjs/operators";
 import { hydrate } from "utils/observable";
+import { areDefined } from "utils/validation";
 import { requestWithUpdateTime } from "./operators/requestWithUpdateTime";
 import { prependPath } from "./workerConfig";
 import { bulkCacheContent } from "./db";
@@ -30,27 +31,43 @@ export const loadHistoryContents = (cfg = {}) => (rawInputs$) => {
         hydrate([undefined, SearchParams]),
     );
 
+    const responseQualifier = ajaxResponse => ajaxResponse.status == 200 && ajaxResponse.response.length > 0;
+
     const ajaxResponse$ = inputs$.pipe(
         map(([id, params, hid]) => {
             const baseUrl = `/api/histories/${id}/contents/near/${hid}/${windowSize}`;
             return `${baseUrl}?${params.historyContentQueryString}`;
         }),
         map(prependPath),
-        requestWithUpdateTime({ dateStore, noInitial }),
+        requestWithUpdateTime({ dateStore, noInitial, responseQualifier }),
+    );
+
+    const validResponses$ = ajaxResponse$.pipe(
+        filter(response => response.status == 200),
         share(),
     );
 
-    const cacheSummary$ = ajaxResponse$.pipe(
+    const cacheSummary$ = validResponses$.pipe(
         pluck("response"),
         bulkCacheContent(),
         summarizeCacheOperation(),
     );
 
-    return zip(ajaxResponse$, cacheSummary$).pipe(
+    return zip(validResponses$, cacheSummary$).pipe(
         map(([ajaxResponse, summary]) => {
             const { xhr, response = [] } = ajaxResponse;
             const { max: maxContentHid, min: minContentHid } = getPropRange(response, "hid");
-            const headerInt = field => parseInt(xhr.getResponseHeader(field));
+
+            // return an int or undefined if the field does not exist in the headers
+            const headerInt = field => {
+                const raw = xhr.getResponseHeader(field);
+                return raw === null ? undefined : parseInt(raw);
+            };
+
+            const headerBool = field => {
+                const raw = xhr.getResponseHeader(field);
+                return (raw == "true" || raw == "1");
+            }
 
             // header counts
             const matchesUp = headerInt("matches_up");
@@ -59,11 +76,16 @@ export const loadHistoryContents = (cfg = {}) => (rawInputs$) => {
             const totalMatchesDown = headerInt("total_matches_down");
             const minHid = headerInt("min_hid");
             const maxHid = headerInt("max_hid");
+            const historySize = headerInt("history_size");
+            const historyEmpty = headerBool("history_empty");
 
+            const matches = areDefined(matchesUp, matchesDown) ? matchesUp + matchesDown : undefined;
+            const totalMatches = areDefined(totalMatchesUp, totalMatchesDown) ? totalMatchesUp + totalMatchesDown : undefined;
+            
             return {
                 summary,
-                matches: matchesUp + matchesDown,
-                totalMatches: totalMatchesUp + totalMatchesDown,
+                matches,
+                totalMatches,
                 minHid,
                 maxHid,
                 minContentHid, // minimum hid in the returned result
@@ -73,6 +95,10 @@ export const loadHistoryContents = (cfg = {}) => (rawInputs$) => {
                 matchesDown,
                 totalMatchesUp,
                 totalMatchesDown,
+
+                // new history size
+                historySize,
+                historyEmpty
             };
         })
     );
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/caching/operators/requestWithUpdateTime.js b/client/src/components/History/caching/operators/requestWithUpdateTime.js
index 324dc1131ee..88fdbc562a6 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/caching/operators/requestWithUpdateTime.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/caching/operators/requestWithUpdateTime.js
@@ -21,10 +21,11 @@ export const requestWithUpdateTime = (config = {}) => {
     const {
         dateStore = requestDateStore,
         bufferSeconds = 0,
-        dateFieldName = "update_time",
+        dateFieldName = "update_time-gt",
         requestTime = moment.utc(),
         // indicates we don't want initial results
-        noInitial = false
+        noInitial = false,
+        responseQualifier = () => true
     } = config;
 
     // mark and flag this update-time, append to next request with same base
@@ -37,7 +38,11 @@ export const requestWithUpdateTime = (config = {}) => {
         mergeMap((baseUrl) => of(baseUrl).pipe(
             appendUpdateTime({ dateStore, bufferSeconds, dateFieldName }),
             mergeMap(ajax),
-            tap(() => dateStore.set(baseUrl, requestTime))
+            tap((response) => {
+                if (responseQualifier(response)) {
+                    dateStore.set(baseUrl, requestTime)
+                }
+            })
         ))
     );
 };
@@ -51,14 +56,14 @@ export const requestWithUpdateTime = (config = {}) => {
 const appendUpdateTime = (cfg = {}) => {
     const {
         dateStore = requestDateStore,
-        dateFieldName = "update_time",
+        dateFieldName = "update_time-gt",
     } = cfg;
 
     return pipe(
         map((baseUrl) => {
             if (!dateStore.has(baseUrl)) return baseUrl;
             const lastRequest = dateStore.get(baseUrl);
-            const parts = [baseUrl, `${dateFieldName}-gt=${lastRequest.toISOString()}`];
+            const parts = [baseUrl, `${dateFieldName}=${lastRequest.toISOString()}`];
             const separator = baseUrl.includes("?") ? "&" : "?";
             return parts.join(separator);
         })
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/model/History.js b/client/src/components/History/model/History.js
index acfb0461828..9d6cd3be1d6 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/model/History.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/model/History.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { dateMixin, ModelBase } from "./ModelBase";
-import { bytesToString } from "utils/utils";
 
 export class History extends dateMixin(ModelBase) {
     // not deleted
@@ -18,14 +17,6 @@ export class History extends dateMixin(ModelBase) {
         }, 0);
     }
 
-    get niceSize() {
-        return this.size ? bytesToString(this.size, true, 2) : "(empty)";
-    }
-
-    get empty() {
-        return this.size == 0;
-    }
-
     get statusDescription() {
         const status = [];
         if (this.shared) status.push("Shared");
@@ -35,12 +26,6 @@ export class History extends dateMixin(ModelBase) {
         if (this.purged) status.push("Purged");
         return status.join(", ");
     }
-
-    loadProps(raw = {}) {
-        // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
-        const { empty, ...theRest } = raw;
-        Object.assign(this, theRest);
-    }
 }
 
 History.equals = function (a, b) {
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/model/historyStore.js b/client/src/components/History/model/historyStore.js
index d9f533fbe03..69696033d9d 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/model/historyStore.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/model/historyStore.js
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ export const actions = {
                 });
         }
     },
-    loadHistoryById({ commit, getters }, id) {
+    loadHistoryById({ commit, getters, dispatch }, id) {
         if (!promises.byId.has(id)) {
             // immediately set if we have something current
             const existing = getters.getHistoryById(id);
@@ -97,12 +97,9 @@ export const actions = {
             }
 
             // but also check for updates
-            const lastUpdated = existing?.update_time || null;
-            const p = getHistoryById(id, lastUpdated)
+            const p = getHistoryById(id)
                 .then((history) => {
-                    if (history.update_time !== lastUpdated) {
-                        commit("setHistory", history);
-                    }
+                    dispatch("selectHistory", history);
                 })
                 .catch((err) => {
                     console.warn("loadHistoryById error", id, err);
@@ -114,8 +111,12 @@ export const actions = {
         }
     },
     async setCurrentHistoryId({ dispatch, getters }, id) {
-        const nextHistory = await setCurrentHistoryOnServer(id);
-        dispatch("selectHistory", nextHistory);
+        // Need to do 2 requests because apparently the response from "setHistory"
+        // can't be twisted to be the same as a normal lookup
+        if (id !== getters.currentHistoryId) {
+            const changedHistory = await setCurrentHistoryOnServer(id);
+            dispatch("loadHistoryById", changedHistory.id);
+        }
     },
     async createNewHistory({ dispatch }) {
         // create history, then select it as current at the same time
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/model/queries.js b/client/src/components/History/model/queries.js
index 1f13bd0215b..f56a332311c 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/model/queries.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/model/queries.js
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ const stdHistoryParams = {
  * Return list of available histories
  */
 export async function getHistoryList() {
-    const response = await api.get("/histories", { params: { view: "summary" } });
+    const params = { view: "summary" };
+    const response = await api.get("/histories", { params });
     return doResponse(response);
 }
 
@@ -117,8 +118,6 @@ export async function createNewHistory(props = {}) {
     return doResponse(createResponse);
 }
 
-//localhost:8081/history/create_new_current
-
 /**
  * Generates copy of history on server
  * @param {Object} history Source history
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/providers/CollectionContentProvider/collectionPayload.js b/client/src/components/History/providers/CollectionContentProvider/collectionPayload.js
index 01e1a4130f2..7ba1df9c3de 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/providers/CollectionContentProvider/collectionPayload.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/providers/CollectionContentProvider/collectionPayload.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { of, Observable, BehaviorSubject, partition, merge } from "rxjs";
+import { of, Observable, Subject, partition, merge } from "rxjs";
 import { tap, map, pluck, switchMap, publish, distinctUntilChanged, share } from "rxjs/operators";
 import { chunk } from "utils/observable";
 import { SearchParams } from "../../model/SearchParams";
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export const collectionPayload = (cfg = {}) => {
         filters = new SearchParams(),
         pageSize = SearchParams.pageSize,
         debug = false,
-        loading$ = new BehaviorSubject(),
+        loadingEvents$ = new Subject(),
     } = cfg;
 
     const { totalElements: totalMatches, contents_url } = dsc;
@@ -48,9 +48,10 @@ export const collectionPayload = (cfg = {}) => {
         );
 
         const serverLoad$ = pagination$.pipe(
-            tap(() => loading$.next(true)),
             switchMap(pagination => of([contents_url, filters, pagination]).pipe(
+                tap(() => loadingEvents$.next(true)),
                 loadDscContent({ debug }),
+                tap(() => loadingEvents$.next(false)),
             )),
         );
 
@@ -62,7 +63,6 @@ export const collectionPayload = (cfg = {}) => {
                 const bottomRows = Math.max(0, totalMatches - contents.length - topRows);
                 return { ...result, topRows, bottomRows, totalMatches };
             }),
-            tap(() => loading$.next(false)),
         );
 
         return new Observable((obs) => {
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/ContentProvider.js b/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/ContentProvider.js
index b62c7ec5cbf..733cf903f8d 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/ContentProvider.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/ContentProvider.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { NEVER } from "rxjs";
 import { SearchParams, ScrollPos } from "../../model";
-import { isValidNumber } from "./helpers";
+import { isValidNumber } from "utils/validation";
 // import { reportPayload } from "../../test/providerTestHelpers";
 
 // first emission, emitted when parent (history) or filters changes to reset the view
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ export const ContentProvider = {
 
         this.listenTo(scrolling$, (val) => (this.scrolling = val));
         this.listenTo(loading$, (val) => (this.loading = val));
-        this.listenTo(resetPos$, (val) => this.resetScrollPos(val));
+        this.listenTo(resetPos$, (pos) => this.setScrollPos(pos));
 
         // render output
         this.listenTo(payload$, {
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ export const ContentProvider = {
     },
 
     methods: {
-        resetScrollPos(pos = ScrollPos.create()) {
-            this.scrollPos = pos;
+        resetScrollPos() {
+            this.setScrollPos(ScrollPos.create());
         },
 
         initStreams() {
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/helpers.js b/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/helpers.js
index 4fc7dfec888..866a7d604ac 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/helpers.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/helpers.js
@@ -15,21 +15,6 @@ export const loadInputsSame = ([inputsA, cursorA], [inputsB, cursorB]) => {
     return cursorA == cursorB && inputsSame(inputsA, inputsB);
 };
 
-// dumb math util
-export const clamp = (val, [bottom, top]) => {
-    return Math.max(bottom, Math.min(top, val));
-};
-
-// simple comparators
-export const isDefined = (val) => {
-    return val !== null && val !== undefined;
-};
-
-// defined, number and finite
-export const isValidNumber = (val) => {
-    return isDefined(val) && !isNaN(val) && isFinite(val);
-};
-
 export const paginationEqual = (a, b) => {
     return a.offset == b.offset && a.limit == b.limit;
 };
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/index.js b/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/index.js
index 8d3ad65665d..ae450991567 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/index.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/index.js
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@ export { aggregateCacheUpdates } from "./aggregateCacheUpdates";
 export { processContentStreams } from "./processContentStreams";
 
 // utils
-export { isValidNumber, paginationEqual } from "./helpers";
+export { paginationEqual } from "./helpers";
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/processContentStreams.js b/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/processContentStreams.js
index e82a3a6a160..a589fdb2acb 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/processContentStreams.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/providers/ContentProvider/processContentStreams.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { activity, whenAny, show } from "utils/observable";
 import { propMatch } from "./helpers";
 import { SearchParams, ScrollPos } from "../../model";
 import { defaultPayload } from "../ContentProvider";
-import { BehaviorSubject, Subject } from "rxjs";
+import { Subject } from "rxjs";
 
 /**
  * Takes incoming history, filters and scroll position and generates loading, scrolling and payload
@@ -43,7 +43,12 @@ export function processContentStreams(payloadOperator, sources = {}, settings =
         activity(200)
     );
 
-    const loading$ = new BehaviorSubject(false);
+    const loadingEvents$ = new Subject();
+    const loading$ = loadingEvents$.pipe(
+        activity(debouncePeriod),
+        startWith(true)
+    );
+    
     const resetPos$ = new Subject();
 
     // The actual loader, when history or params change we poll against the api and
@@ -55,7 +60,7 @@ export function processContentStreams(payloadOperator, sources = {}, settings =
                 console.clear();
                 console.log("processContentStreams: pos", JSON.stringify(pos));
             }),
-            payloadOperator({ parent, filters, loading$, resetPos$, ...settings }),
+            payloadOperator({ parent, filters, loadingEvents$, resetPos$, ...settings }),
             startWith({ ...defaultPayload, placeholder: true }),
         )),
         share()
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/providers/HistoryContentProvider/contentPayload.js b/client/src/components/History/providers/HistoryContentProvider/contentPayload.js
index 7fb539e7a94..9da5846b91f 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/providers/HistoryContentProvider/contentPayload.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/providers/HistoryContentProvider/contentPayload.js
@@ -1,22 +1,28 @@
-import { merge, partition, Observable, BehaviorSubject, Subject } from "rxjs";
+import { concat, race, timer, merge, partition, Observable, BehaviorSubject, Subject } from "rxjs";
 import {
-    tap,
+    debounceTime,
     distinctUntilChanged,
-    map,
     filter,
-    share,
-    withLatestFrom,
+    map,
+    mapTo,
+    mergeAll,
+    pairwise,
     pluck,
     publish,
-    mergeAll,
-    debounceTime,
+    share,
+    shareReplay,
+    take,
+    tap,
     window,
+    withLatestFrom,
 } from "rxjs/operators";
 import { chunk, show } from "utils/observable";
-import { isValidNumber } from "../ContentProvider";
+import { isValidNumber } from "utils/validation";
 import { SearchParams, CurveFit, ScrollPos } from "../../model";
 import { loadContents } from "./loadContents";
 import { watchHistoryContents } from "./watchHistoryContents";
+import { default as store } from "store/index";
+import { defaultPayload } from "../ContentProvider";
 
 /**
  * Observable operator accepts history, search filters as config values, then uses an observable
@@ -33,17 +39,20 @@ export const contentPayload = (cfg = {}) => {
         filters = new SearchParams(),
         pageSize = SearchParams.pageSize, 
         debouncePeriod = 250,
+        loadingTimeout = 2000,
         disablePoll = false,
         debug = false,
-        // status outputs
-        loading$ = new BehaviorSubject(),
+        // optional feedback indicators
+        loadingEvents$ = new Subject(),
         resetPos$ = new Subject(),
     } = cfg;
 
-    // stats for this history + filters, accumulates and improves over successive polls
-    const totalMatches$ = new BehaviorSubject(0);
-    const cursorToHid$ = new BehaviorSubject(createCursorToHid(history));
-    const hidToTopRows$ = new BehaviorSubject(createHidToTopRows(history));
+    // These running totals are shared between instances of content payload because a lot of the
+    // stats do not get returned on every single pol. That means the most recent values need to be
+    // preserved when the user switches the filters back and forth
+    const totalMatches$ = getSubject("totalMatches", history, filters, () => new BehaviorSubject(history.hidItems));
+    const cursorToHid$ = getSubject("cursorToHid", history, filters, () => new BehaviorSubject(createCursorToHid(history)));
+    const hidToTopRows$ = getSubject("hidToTopRows", history, filters, () => new BehaviorSubject(createHidToTopRows(history)));
 
     return publish((pos$) => {
 
@@ -82,8 +91,10 @@ export const contentPayload = (cfg = {}) => {
         );
 
         const serverLoad$ = serverHid$.pipe(
-            tap(() => loading$.next(true)),
+            tap(() => loadingEvents$.next(true)),
             loadContents({ history, filters, disablePoll, debug }),
+            tap(() => loadingEvents$.next(false)),
+            tap((response) => updateVuexHistory(history.id, response)),
             share(),
         );
 
@@ -102,16 +113,23 @@ export const contentPayload = (cfg = {}) => {
         const cacheMonitor$ = cacheHid$.pipe(
             watchHistoryContents({ history, filters, pageSize, debouncePeriod, debug }),
             show(debug, (result) => console.log("cacheMonitor.contents (hid)", result.contents.map(o => o.hid))),
-            share(),
+            shareReplay(1)
         );
 
-        const payload$ = cacheMonitor$.pipe(
+        const cachePayload$ = cacheMonitor$.pipe(
             withLatestFrom(totalMatches$, hidToTopRows$),
             map(buildPayload(pageSize)),
-            tap(() => loading$.next(false)),
             show(debug, (payload) => console.log("payload", payload)),
         );
 
+        // An empty cache response, wait a while then emit an empty payload
+        const noResults$ = timer(loadingTimeout).pipe(
+            mapTo({ ...defaultPayload, noResults: true }),
+            take(1)
+        );
+        const noInitialResults$ = concat(noResults$, cachePayload$);
+        const payload$ = race(noInitialResults$, cachePayload$);
+
         // #endregion
 
         // #region Reposition View to accomodate recent updates
@@ -122,19 +140,29 @@ export const contentPayload = (cfg = {}) => {
         // particular reason to shift the view. But that's not ideal when you're already looking at
         // the top of the history and expect to see the most recent updates as they come in.
 
-        const adjustedScrollPos$ = cacheMonitor$.pipe(
-            pluck('contents'),
-            mergeAll(),
-            pluck('hid'),
-            withLatestFrom(pos$, hidToTopRows$),
-            filter(([hid, pos, fit]) => {
-                const domainMax = Math.max(...fit.domain);
-                const aboveTop = hid > domainMax;
-                const scrollAtTop = pos.cursor !== undefined && pos.cursor !== null && pos.cursor == 0.0;
-                return aboveTop && scrollAtTop;
+        const adjustedScrollPos$ = serverLoad$.pipe(
+            pairwise(),
+            filter(([a,b]) => !isNaN(a.maxHid) && !isNaN(b.maxHid)),
+            withLatestFrom(pos$, hid$),
+            map(([[lastResponse, response], pos, hid]) => {
+                const updatesAtTop = response.maxHid > lastResponse.maxHid;
+
+                const scrollerInDefault = (pos.cursor == 0 && pos.key == null);
+                const fudge = 2;
+                const scrollNearLastTop = Math.abs(hid - lastResponse.maxContentHid) < fudge;
+                const scrollerAtTop = scrollerInDefault || scrollNearLastTop;
+                
+                // console.group("should i reposition?");
+                // console.log("updatesAtTop", updatesAtTop);
+                // console.log("scrollerAtTop", scrollerAtTop);
+                // console.groupEnd();
+
+                if (updatesAtTop && scrollerAtTop) {
+                    return new ScrollPos({ cursor: 0, key: response.maxHid })
+                }
+                return null;
             }),
-            map(([hid]) => ScrollPos.create({ key: hid })),
-            debounceTime(debouncePeriod),
+            filter(Boolean),
         );
 
         // #endregion
@@ -167,7 +195,7 @@ export const contentPayload = (cfg = {}) => {
             sub.add(newCursorToHid$.subscribe(cursorToHid$));
             sub.add(newHidToTopRows$.subscribe(hidToTopRows$));
             sub.add(newMatches$.subscribe(totalMatches$));
-            sub.add(adjustedScrollPos$.subscribe(resetPos$))
+            sub.add(adjustedScrollPos$.subscribe(resetPos$));
 
             return sub;
         })
@@ -188,7 +216,6 @@ const estimateHid = (cursor, fit) => {
     }
 
     // we're screwed
-    console.log("estimateHid no estimate available");
     return undefined;
 };
 
@@ -287,3 +314,36 @@ const createCursorToHid = (history) => {
     fit.set(1.0, 1);
     return fit;
 };
+
+// Need to stash these subjects in memory since we don't get the counts
+// back on every single poll request
+
+const subjects = new Map();
+
+const getSubject = (label, history, filters, subjectFactory) => {
+    const key = makeSubjectKey(label, history, filters);
+    if (!subjects.has(key)) {
+        subjects.set(key, subjectFactory());
+    }
+    return subjects.get(key);
+};
+
+const makeSubjectKey = (label, history, filters) => {
+    return JSON.stringify({ label, historyId: history.id, filters: filters.export() });
+};
+
+/**
+ * Updates the vuex history when a polling result comes back.
+ * TODO: consider storing histories in cache instead of Vuex, since some users have very large lists
+ * of histories.
+ *
+ * @param   {string}  historyId     History id from poll result
+ * @param   {object}  pollResponse  Poll summary response
+ */
+const updateVuexHistory = (historyId, pollResponse) => {
+    const getter = store.getters["betaHistory/getHistoryById"];
+    const existingHistory = getter(historyId);
+    const { historySize: size, historyEmpty: empty } = pollResponse;
+    const history = { ...existingHistory, size, empty };
+    store.dispatch("betaHistory/setHistory", history);
+};
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/providers/HistoryContentProvider/loadContents.js b/client/src/components/History/providers/HistoryContentProvider/loadContents.js
index 70a8f1579b1..ca40cbf15c1 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/providers/HistoryContentProvider/loadContents.js
+++ b/client/src/components/History/providers/HistoryContentProvider/loadContents.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import { concat, defer, of, throwError } from "rxjs";
-import { delay, repeat, switchMap, switchMapTo, debounceTime, startWith } from "rxjs/operators";
+import { defer, of, throwError } from "rxjs";
+import { switchMap, debounceTime, startWith, repeatWhen } from "rxjs/operators";
 import { decay } from "utils/observable";
 import { monitorXHR } from "utils/observable/monitorXHR";
 import { loadHistoryContents } from "../../caching";
@@ -13,9 +13,7 @@ export const loadContents = (cfg = {}) => {
         initialInterval = 2 * 1000,
         maxInterval = 10 * initialInterval,
         disablePoll = false,
-        // debug = false,
-        // time between initial load and polling start
-        startingDelay = 5000,
+        debug = false,
         windowSize = 2 * SearchParams.pageSize,
     } = cfg;
 
@@ -28,39 +26,32 @@ export const loadContents = (cfg = {}) => {
 
     const { id } = history;
 
+    const singleLoad = (hid) => defer(() => of([id, filters, hid]).pipe(
+        loadHistoryContents({ windowSize }),
+    ));
+
+    const poll = (request$) => resetPoll(100).pipe(
+        switchMap(() => request$.pipe(
+            repeatWhen(completed$ => completed$.pipe(
+                decay({ initialInterval, maxInterval, debug }),
+            ))
+        ))
+    );
+
     return switchMap((hid) => {
-
-        // a single history update
-        const singleLoad$ = of([id, filters, hid]).pipe(
-            loadHistoryContents({ windowSize })
-        );
-
-        // start repeating, delay gets longer over time until unsubscribed
-        const freshPoll$ = defer(() => singleLoad$.pipe(
-            decay({ initialInterval, maxInterval }),
-            repeat()
-        ));
-
-        // history, tools routes all refresh
-        // exclude our own polling url though
-        const routes = [/api\/(history|tools|histories)/];
-        const methods = ["POST", "PUT", "DELETE"];
-        const resetPoll$ = monitorXHR({ methods, routes });
-
-        // resets re-subscribe to freshPoll$ starting the decay over again
-        const poll$ = resetPoll$.pipe(
-            startWith(true),
-            debounceTime(100),
-            switchMapTo(freshPoll$)
-        );
-
-        // if we're polling, add a little delay between initial load and polling
-        // avoids pointless polling if the user is rapidly changing the view
-        const polling$ = of(true).pipe(
-            delay(startingDelay),
-            switchMapTo(poll$)
-        );
-
-        return disablePoll ? singleLoad$ : concat(singleLoad$, polling$);
+        const request$ = singleLoad(hid);
+        return disablePoll ? request$ : poll(request$);
     })
 };
+
+// history, tools routes all refresh
+// prettier-ignore
+const resetPoll = (debouncePeriod) => {
+    const routes = [/api\/(history|tools|histories)/];
+    const methods = ["POST", "PUT", "DELETE"];
+
+    return monitorXHR({ methods, routes }).pipe(
+        startWith(true), 
+        debounceTime(debouncePeriod)
+    );
+};
diff --git a/client/src/utils/math.js b/client/src/utils/math.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ff80714c19d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/utils/math.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+export const clamp = (val, bottom, top) => {
+    return Math.max(bottom, Math.min(top, val));
+};
diff --git a/client/src/utils/observable/decay.js b/client/src/utils/observable/decay.js
index 099d90b1512..06c5cf37b3c 100644
--- a/client/src/utils/observable/decay.js
+++ b/client/src/utils/observable/decay.js
@@ -1,20 +1,21 @@
 // Stateful delay gets longer with each repeated call
 import { of } from "rxjs";
-import { mergeMap, delay } from "rxjs/operators";
+import { concatMap, delay } from "rxjs/operators";
+import { show } from "utils/observable";
 
 export const decay = (cfg = {}) => {
-    const { initialInterval, maxInterval = 60 * 1000, lambda = 0.25 } = cfg;
-
-    if (undefined === initialInterval) {
-        throw new Error("provide an initialInterval to decay");
-    }
+    const { initialInterval = 1000, maxInterval = 60 * 1000, lambda = 0.25, debug = false } = cfg;
 
     let counter = 0;
 
-    return mergeMap((val) => {
+    return concatMap((val) => {
         let waitTime = Math.floor(initialInterval * Math.exp(lambda * counter++));
         waitTime = Math.max(waitTime, initialInterval);
         waitTime = Math.min(waitTime, maxInterval);
-        return of(val).pipe(delay(waitTime));
+
+        return of(val).pipe(
+            show(debug, (val) => console.log("decay", val, counter, waitTime)),
+            delay(waitTime)
+        );
     });
 };
diff --git a/client/src/utils/validation.js b/client/src/utils/validation.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ab2e8f4a280
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/utils/validation.js
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// type utils
+
+// all args not null and not undefined
+export const areDefined = (...vals) => vals.every(isDefined);
+
+// not null and not undefined
+export const isDefined = (val) => val !== undefined && val !== null;
+
+// defined, number and finite
+export const isValidNumber = (val) => isDefined(val) && !isNaN(val) && isFinite(val);
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/history_contents.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/history_contents.py
index 8e84cfbaf54..5bff0f937d4 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/history_contents.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/history_contents.py
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 """
 API operations on the contents of a history.
 """
+import json
 import logging
 import os
 import re
+from datetime import datetime
 
 from galaxy import (
     exceptions,
@@ -1057,7 +1059,7 @@ class HistoryContentsController(BaseGalaxyAPIController, UsesLibraryMixinItems,
         trans.response.headers.update(archive.get_headers())
         return archive.response()
 
-    @expose_api_anonymous
+    @expose_api_raw_anonymous
     def contents_near(self, trans, history_id, hid, limit, **kwd):
         """
         This endpoint provides random access to a large history without having
@@ -1075,6 +1077,18 @@ class HistoryContentsController(BaseGalaxyAPIController, UsesLibraryMixinItems,
         * GET /api/histories/{history_id}/contents/near/{hid}/{limit}
         """
         history = self.history_manager.get_accessible(self.decode_id(history_id), trans.user, current_history=trans.history)
+
+        # while polling, check to see if the history has changed
+        # if it hasn't then we can short-circuit the poll request
+        since = kwd.get('update_time-gt', None)
+        if since:
+            since_str = self.history_contents_filters.parse_date(since)
+            since_date = datetime.fromisoformat(since_str)
+            if history.update_time <= since_date:
+                trans.response.status = 204
+                return
+
+        # parse content params
         filter_params = self._parse_rest_params(kwd)
         serialization_params = self._parse_serialization_params(kwd, 'betawebclient')
         view = serialization_params.pop('view')
@@ -1105,8 +1119,10 @@ class HistoryContentsController(BaseGalaxyAPIController, UsesLibraryMixinItems,
         trans.response.headers['total_matches_down'] = down_count
         trans.response.headers['max_hid'] = max_hid
         trans.response.headers['min_hid'] = min_hid
+        trans.response.headers['history_size'] = str(history.disk_size)
+        trans.response.headers['history_empty'] = json.dumps(history.empty)  # convert to proper bool
 
-        return contents
+        return json.dumps(contents)
 
     # Perform content query and matching count
     def _seek(self, history, filter_params, order_by_string, limit, serialization_params):