Local History by
Omaha Exploration

The largest destruction of a historic district in the country occurred in Omaha nearly four decades ago. The area was known as Jobbers Canyon. The industrial district was formed after Council Bluffs was designated the eastern terminus for the transcontinental railroad...

Built in 1893 by the Omaha Bridge and Terminal Railway Company, the historic East Omaha Bridge connected Omaha and Council Bluffs for rail service. After a second swing span was added in 1904 following a shift in the Missouri River’s navigation channel, it became the largest swing bridge in the world…

Omaha’s oldest park was founded more than 150 years ago. Prior to that, the city had only one other park, Jefferson Square at 16th & Chicago Street, which consisted of a single block. Noting the lack of green space in the rapidly growing 18-year-old city, Andrew Hanscom and James Megeath donated 57…

One of Omaha’s most well-known historic buildings bears the name Specht. Located across from the Gene Leahy Mall, the building was constructed by Christian Specht for his Western Cornice Works. Born in Germany in 1847, Christian Specht arrived in Baltimore at the age of 18. From there, he is said to have walked to Cincinnati…

Having been constructed just as the city embarked on its ambitious project to lower the steep hill from 17th to 22nd along Dodge Street, El Beudor (present day Hotel Indigo) required significant reconfiguration before opening its doors to its first tenants. Located...

One of Omaha’s most recognizable residences belonged to Colonel Joel Northrup Cornish, a man whose grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War and who was himself commissioned as a colonel by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. Born in New York in 1828,...

Adjacent to the emerging Flatiron District, the building now known as the Magnolia Hotel first opened as Aquila Court in 1924. Built by brothers Chester and Raymond Cook, it was envisioned as an elegant multi-use destination that combined offices and apartments with...

In 1962, the City of Omaha began constructing pedestrian bridges in response to the city's continued growth. With streets growing busier, and more children walking to school, safety became an increasing concern. The issue was amplified after World War II, as returning...

The construction of US West’s 1200 Landmark Center in 1988 reflected a balance between preservation and development in Omaha. While one historic building was saved, another—among the city’s oldest—was lost as part of a project that was promoted as the largest office...

Omaha’s early growth was hindered by the large, steep hills just west of downtown along Farnam, Douglas, and Dodge Streets. The problem was so severe that it made it difficult for streetcars—and later automobiles—to reach the top of the hill at 24th Street. While...