Architecture in Omaha, Nebraska facts for kids
Architecture in Omaha, Nebraska shows how the city has grown and changed since the late 1800s. You can see many different styles of buildings, from old churches to modern homes.
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Famous Buildings and Their Styles
Omaha has many important buildings from the early 1900s. For example, St. Cecilia Cathedral at 701 N. 40th Street was designed by Thomas Rogers Kimball in a Spanish Renaissance Revival style, which looks like old Spanish buildings. Another famous church is St. John's A.M.E. Church at 2402 N. 22nd Street. It was designed by Frederick S. Stott in the Prairie School style, known for its flat roofs and open plans.
A young African American architect named Clarence W. Wigington worked with Kimball. Wigington designed the Broomfield Rowhouse and Zion Baptist Church in Omaha. He later moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he designed many important buildings. His work left a big mark on architecture across the Midwestern United States. The company Mendelssohn, Fisher and Lawrie also designed many important buildings in early Omaha.
Some important people in Omaha's building history include John Latenser, Sr., who came from Liechtenstein. Also, Byron Reed and A.J. Poppleton were early real estate leaders. Other early architects were Charles F. Beindorf, who designed the old City Hall, and Frederick W. Clarke, who designed Vinton School.
Public Buildings
Omaha has many interesting public buildings. Here are a few examples:
| Name | Style / Notes |
|---|---|
| Fort Omaha Historic District | Built in the Italianate style. |
| Technical High School | When it was built, it was the largest school west of Chicago. |
| North High School | An important high school building in the city. |
Business Buildings
Many commercial buildings in Omaha show different styles.
| Name | Location | Style / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of Florence | 8502 N. 30th Street | A Greek Revival-style building from the mid-1800s. |
| Jewell Building | 2221-2225 N. 24th Street | A Georgian Revival-style building from the early 1900s. |
| Webster Telephone Exchange Building | 2213 Lake Street | Built in 1907 in the Jacobethan Revival style. |
| Omaha Star building | A 1923 building in the Commercial style, home to the Omaha Star newspaper. |
Homes and Apartments
Omaha has many unique houses and apartment buildings.
| Name | Style / Notes |
|---|---|
| Dr. Samuel Mercer House | A Queen Anne Style house built between 1875 and 1924. |
| George H. Kelly House | A Classical Revival house built between 1900 and 1924. |
| Havens-Page House | Built in the early 1900s, combining late 19th and 20th Century Revival styles. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. |
| Strehlow Terrace | An apartment complex with mixed styles like Bungalow, American Craftsman, Classical Revival, and Prairie School. |
| Harry Buford House | Built in 1929 in the Period Revival-Style. |
| Joseph Garneau Jr./Thomas Kilpatrick House | Built in 1890 in the Romanesque Revival style. |
| Melrose Apartments | Built in 1916. |
| Saunders School | Built in 1899 in the Neoclassical Revival-style. |
| George F. Shepard House | A Queen Anne Style/Beaux Arts-style home built in 1903. |
| Sherman Apartments | A Neoclassical Revival-style apartment building built in 1897. |
| Charles Storz House | An Arts and Crafts-style home built in 1909. |
| Broomfield Rowhouse | Designed by the famous architect Clarence Wigington in 1913. |
Churches and Religious Buildings
North Omaha has several important churches. Calvin Memorial Presbyterian Church at 3105 North 24th Street is a great example of the Neo-Classical Revival Style. Its design was inspired by buildings from the 1898 Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition held nearby.
Holy Family Church was built in 1883 for Irish immigrants. Over time, it also served Czech and Italian immigrants. Today, it serves the city's African American Catholics. This building is on the National Register of Historic Places, just like St. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church.
St. John's Church was built in 1921 in the Prairie style. It was designed by Omaha architect Frederick S. Stott. This building shows a modern approach for a black church at a time when most religious buildings looked very traditional.
Architects Who Shaped Omaha
Many talented architects helped build Omaha. Here are some of the most notable:
| Name | Years active | Famous Designs |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Rogers Kimball | 1906 to 1936 | Designed St. Cecelia's Cathedral, Burlington Headquarters Building, and the Hotel Fontenelle. |
| Clarence W. Wigington | 1898 to 1915 in Omaha | Designed the Broomfield Rowhouse and Zion Baptist Church. |
| Mendelssohn, Fisher and Lawrie | 1887 to 1931 | Designed buildings like Broatch Building and Minne Lusa Pumping Station. |
| John Latenser | 1887 to 1931 | Designed Omaha Central High School and the Douglas County Courthouse. |
| John McDonald | 1887 to 1950 | Designed the Joslyn Art Museum, Joslyn Castle, and the Hill Hotel. |
Buildings That Are No Longer Here
Some important buildings in Omaha have been torn down over the years.
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bee Building | Built in 1888, torn down in 1966. |
| Minne Lusa Pumping Station | Completed in 1889, torn down in 1970. |
| Gerald R. Ford birthsite | The house where President Gerald R. Ford was born in 1913. It was torn down in 1971. |
| Hotel Fontenelle | Designed by Thomas Rogers Kimball and built in 1914, it was torn down in 1983. |
| Indian Hills Theater | Built in 1962, it was the largest and last Super-Cinerama movie theater in the U.S. |
| Jobbers Canyon | A large area of old buildings from the 1860s, all torn down in 1989. |
| Krug Park | An amusement park that opened in 1895. It became a public park in 1955. |
| Malcolm X birthplace | The house where Malcolm X was born in 1925. It was torn down in 1965. |
| Old Post Office | Built in 1898, torn down in 1966. |
| Old City Hall | Completed in 1890, torn down in 1966. |
| Peony Park | An amusement park opened in 1920 and torn down in 1996. |
