diff --git a/lib/galaxy/web/controllers/history.py b/lib/galaxy/web/controllers/history.py
index cf12e3fe6ae..001daef235d 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/web/controllers/history.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/web/controllers/history.py
@@ -196,6 +196,22 @@ class HistoryController( BaseController ):
             return self.rename( trans, **kwargs )
         return self._list_grid( trans, *args, **kwargs )
     
+    @web.expose
+    def delete_current( self, trans ):
+        """
+        Delete just the active history -- this does not require a logged
+        in user.
+        """
+        history = trans.get_history()
+        if not history.deleted:
+            history.deleted = True
+            history.flush()
+            trans.log_event( "History id %d marked as deleted" % history.id )
+        # Regardless of whether it was previously deleted, we make a new
+        # history active 
+        trans.new_history()
+        return trans.show_ok_message( "History deleted, a new history is active" )
+    
     @web.expose
     def rename_async( self, trans, id=None, new_name=None ):
         history = model.History.get( id )
diff --git a/templates/history/options.mako b/templates/history/options.mako
index b9f3c460d46..eb3813eeae9 100644
--- a/templates/history/options.mako
+++ b/templates/history/options.mako
@@ -22,5 +22,5 @@
     <li><a href="${h.url_for( action='history_set_default_permissions' )}">Change default permissions</a> for the current history</li>
 %endif
     <li><a href="${h.url_for( controller='root', action='history', show_deleted=True)}" target="galaxy_history">Show deleted</a> datasets in history</li>
-    <li><a href="${h.url_for( controller='history', action='list', operation="delete", id=history.id )}" confirm="Are you sure you want to delete the current history?">Delete</a> current history</div>
+    <li><a href="${h.url_for( controller='history', action='delete_current' )}" confirm="Are you sure you want to delete the current history?">Delete</a> current history</div>
 </ul>