Downtown Omaha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Downtown Omaha
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View of Downtown Omaha looking west from the Gene Leahy Mall
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| Nickname(s):
Gateway to the West, the Big O
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| Counties | Douglas County |
| City | Omaha |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.72 sq mi (1.86 km2) |
| • Land | 0.70 sq mi (1.81 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) 2.78% |
| Elevation | 1,090 ft (330 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 10,334 |
| • Density | 14,353/sq mi (5,709/km2) |
| ZIP code |
68102
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| Area code(s) | 402, 531 |
| Website | oldmarket.com |
Downtown Omaha is the busy heart of Omaha, a city in the Nebraska state of the United States. It's where many businesses, government offices, and social events happen. The area stretches from 20th Street in the west to the Missouri River in the east. It also includes the CHI Health Center Omaha. Downtown Omaha sits right by the Missouri River, offering amazing views from its tall buildings.
For a long time, Downtown Omaha has been a popular spot for company headquarters. The Union Pacific Railroad, a major train company, has been based here since 1862. In the past, an area called Jobbers Canyon Historic District had many warehouses. These were important for businesses that helped settle the American West. Today, many companies have their main or regional offices in Downtown Omaha.
This area is home to over 30 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are places recognized for their special history. Downtown Omaha also had the Jobbers Canyon Historic District. Sadly, all 24 buildings there were taken down in 1989. This was the biggest loss of historic buildings from the National Register at one time.
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History of Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is where the city first began. William D. Brown's Lone Tree Ferry was the first place where people started to build things. In 2004, experts used modern tools and old maps to find the exact spot of the ferry landing. It's now near Gallup University. Omaha Central High School, at 124 North 20th Street, is where Omaha's founders met on July 4, 1854, to celebrate starting the city.
Today, the Old Market is a popular social spot. But it used to be a busy warehouse district, much like Jobbers Canyon. Jobbers Canyon was a large area of warehouses where much of Omaha's industrial wealth was created. Other old areas downtown included Chinatown.
Exploring Downtown Omaha's Neighborhoods
Downtown Omaha is a large area, but it has several smaller, unique neighborhoods inside it. The Old Market Historic District has been updated. Now it has cool shops, offices, and apartments. On the south side of downtown, near Little Italy, the Burlington Station is a historic building. It has been turned into apartments.
North Downtown (NoDo)
North Downtown, or NoDo, is a newer area that combines different types of buildings. It covers 80 blocks, from Creighton University to the CHI Health Center Omaha and new areas along the Missouri River. Its borders are Seward Street to the north, I-480 to the south, 17th Street to the west, and Riverfront Drive to the east.
NoDo is very important to Omaha's history. Miller's Landing along the river was where the Lone Tree Ferry brought early settlers from Iowa. The first plans for the city were made in this area.
Today, NoDo has the Slowdown music venue. The new TD Ameritrade Park opened in 2011. It is the new home for the College World Series baseball games and Creighton University baseball. This area also has popular stores, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. The Hot Shops Art Center is here, where local artists show their work. Several new hotels have opened, and many old buildings have been turned into apartments. The Missouri Riverfront is the eastern edge of NoDo. Millions of dollars have been spent to improve it. The city has built a new boardwalk, walking trails, and the Lewis & Clark Landing. These areas connect to Heartland of America Park and host many of Omaha's yearly festivals. There's also a city marina for boats and a restaurant called Rick's Boatyard. Important buildings along the riverfront include the National Park Service office and The Gallup Organization headquarters. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, a 3,000-foot footbridge, connects Omaha to Council Bluffs, Iowa.
| Cool Spots in North Downtown | |
|---|---|
| Name | Location |
| CHI Health Center | 455 North 10th Street |
| TD Ameritrade Park | |
| Creighton University | 320 N 20th St |
| Slowdown | 729 North 14th Street |
| Morrison Stadium | 2500 California Plaza |
| Miller's Landing | 151 Freedom Park Rd |
| Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters | 601 Riverfront Drive |
| RiverFront Place Condos | 555 Riverfront Plz |
| Gallup University Campus | 1001 Gallup Dr |
Park East: Downtown's Gateway
Park East is like the entrance to Downtown Omaha. Many people think it's part of the main downtown area because of its tall buildings. It runs from 20th Street to 28th Street and from Dodge Street to Leavenworth. This neighborhood is between Midtown Omaha and Downtown. It has several historic buildings and some of Omaha's tallest skyscrapers. Park East is home to major art places like the Joslyn Art Museum, the Omaha Children's Museum, and The Rose Theater. There are still big companies here, like Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Efforts are being made to restore the area, and you can see new apartments and condos. A school, Liberty Elementary, opened in 2004 for the growing downtown population.
Park East was once home to the first Nebraska State Capitol. It also had Jefferson Square, one of Omaha's first parks. The Market House and Omaha's first school were in this park. The Old Post Office was also located here.
| Places to See in Park East | |
|---|---|
| Name | Location |
| Joslyn Art Museum | 2200 Dodge Street |
| Omaha Children's Museum | 500 S 20th Street |
| The Rose Theater | 2665 Farnam Street |
| Northern Natural Gas Building | 2223 Dodge Street |
| Physicians Mutual Building | 2600 Dodge Street |
| Westbrook Tower | 2121 Douglas Street |
| Omaha Central High School | 124 N. 20th Street |
| Scoular Building | 2027 Dodge Street |
| The Jay | 2416 Davenport Street |
| Ford Hospital | 121 South 25th Street |
The Old Market: A Historic Gem
The Old Market is a neighborhood known for its many restaurants, art galleries, and fancy shops. It also has many apartments, including the JLofts on the Market. The streets here are still paved with old bricks from the early 1900s. You can sometimes see horse-drawn carriages and covered sidewalks. It's common to find street performers, artists, and other vendors here.
| Famous Spots in the Old Market | |
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| Name | Location |
| Poppleton Block | 1001 Farnam Street |
| St. Nicholas Hotel | 12th and Jackson Streets |
| Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot | 1207-1215 Jones Street |
| Douglas House | 13th and Harney Streets |
| Omaha Bolt, Nut and Screw Building | 1316 Jones Street |
| First Woodman of the World Building | 15th and Howard Streets |
| Grand Central Hotel | 14th and Farnam Streets |
Market West: The New Neighbor
Market West is a newer neighborhood located west of the Old Market. It's south of the main business district. Its main borders are 17th Street to the west, 13th Street to the east, Howard Street to the north, and the train tracks to the south.
Part of Market West is in the Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District. This area has many historic warehouses. However, new apartment buildings are now being built here. People often confuse Market West with the Old Market. This is because 13th Street is a clear boundary. But the actual historic Old Market area is just a few blocks.
| Historic Buildings in Market West | |
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| Name | Location |
| Aquila Court Building (Magnolia Hotel) | 1615 Howard Street |
| Eggerss-O'Flyng Building | 801 South 15th Street |
| Flatiron Hotel | 1722 St. Mary's Avenue |
| Hill Hotel | 505 South 16th Street |
| Omaha Bolt, Nut and Screw Building | 1316 Jones Street |
Downtown Omaha's Exciting Projects
Many projects are happening in Downtown Omaha to fix up and expand the city's center. HDR, Inc., an Omaha company, designed the important Omaha World-Herald Freedom Center. It opened in 2001.
The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is leading to a big riverfront expansion. This bridge has a modern design with two tall spires. They look like sails and have colorful LED lights at the top. On the Omaha side, the riverfront project includes restaurants and businesses. There are also two tall condo towers and a large plaza with fountains and statues.
A new downtown baseball stadium, TD Ameritrade Park, was built in the NoDo area. The stadium can seat 24,000 people. It can even be made larger to hold up to 35,500. The stadium has open areas and great views of the downtown skyline. It faces towards the CHI Health Center Omaha and the new riverfront areas.
New Homes in Downtown Omaha
Even during tough economic times, Downtown Omaha has seen many new homes being built. Many new apartment buildings have been finished or are being built. These projects are adding thousands of new homes to the area.
Some examples of these new homes include:
- The Wire (300 units): An old office building from 1957. It has a pool, indoor basketball court, and a rooftop deck.
- The Highline (194 units): This was the old Northern Natural Gas Building. It is now the tallest residential building in Downtown Omaha.
- SLATE (117 units): Another old office building near The Wire.
- The Bank (106 units): The success of this project helped start the recent boom in apartment building.
- The Corvina (125 units): A new building where a historic building once stood. It will have a pool.
- The Rochester (75 units): Located near the Hot Shops and TD Ameritrade stadium.
- L14 Flats (42 units): A new building on the edge of the Old Market.
- The Capitol District (226 units): A planned development with apartments, a hotel, and an outdoor entertainment area.
- The Breakers Apartments (214 units): This project is turning an old power plant site into homes.
- The Limelight (40 units): A commercial store being built up with new floors for apartments.
- Jones13 (100 units): A new building very close to the Old Market.
- 1501 Jackson (75 units): A new building with heated parking and a rooftop cyber cafe.
- The Barker (48 units): A historic building from 1929 that has been renovated.
- Highline 2.0 (114 units): A new building with indoor bike parking and an outdoor pool.
- Traver's Row (24 row houses): Historic row houses that have been renovated.
- Nichol Flats (67 units): A new building with affordable apartments near TD Ameritrade stadium.
- Woolworth Lofts (43 units): An old building in the middle of the Old Market being turned into apartments.
- Flats on Howard (153 units): Several old brick buildings being redeveloped with a courtyard and pet park.
Fun Things to Do in Downtown Omaha
Besides the Old Market, Downtown Omaha has many other fun places to visit. There's the historic Orpheum Theater. It was built by John A. Creighton, whose family also started Creighton University. The Orpheum and the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center are the oldest theaters left downtown. The Magic Theatre shows experimental plays.
The Omaha Children's Museum, Durham Western Heritage Museum, and the Holland Performing Arts Center are great places for art. The CHI Health Center Omaha and the Omaha Civic Auditorium host many events. These include concerts, sports games, and more. Slowdown is a new cultural center between NoDo and the Near North Side neighborhood.
Heartland of America Park and the Gene Leahy Mall are outdoor spaces. They host concerts and other events all year long.
Downtown Omaha's Amazing Architecture
Downtown Omaha was the first part of the city. Businesses were along the river, and the area around it was full of shops, homes, and social activities. The Omaha National Bank Building was the first tall building downtown. It was built in 1888-89. It was designed in a style called Renaissance Revival. This building was Omaha's first ten-story structure. Recently, the area has been brought back to life. Many new and important buildings have been built.
Tallest Buildings in Downtown Omaha
Omaha's tallest building, the 45-story First National Bank Tower, is in Downtown.
| Tallest Buildings in Downtown Omaha | |||
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| Name | Location | Stories | Height |
| One First National Center | 1601 Dodge Street | 45 | 634 ft (193 m) |
| Woodmen Tower | 1805 Douglas Street | 30 | 478 ft (146 m) |
| Union Pacific Center | 1400 Douglas Street | 19 | 317 ft (97 m) |
| First National Center | 1620 Dodge Street | 22 | 295 ft (90 m) |
| AT&T Building | 116-124 South 19th Street | 16 | 265 ft (81 m) |
| Northern Natural Gas Building | 2233 Dodge Street | 19 | 260 ft (79 m) |
| 1200 Landmark Center | 1299 Farnam Street | 15 | 255 ft (78 m) |
| Omaha World Herald Building | 1314 Douglas Street | 16 | 250 ft (76 m) |
| Double Tree Hotel | 1616 Dodge Street | 19 | 237 ft (72 m) |
| City National Bank Building (Omaha) | 411 South 16th Street | 16 | 220 ft (67 m) |
Historic Districts and Buildings
The Old Market Historic District is a special area. It is bordered by Farnam Street, Leavenworth, South 10th Street, and South 14th Street. The Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District is another important area. Both are listed as historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places. Downtown Omaha also saw the biggest loss of historic buildings from the National Register. All 24 buildings in the Jobbers Canyon Historic District were torn down in 1989. They were replaced by the ConAgra headquarters and Heartland of America Park.
Many important buildings in Downtown Omaha are recognized as landmarks. They are all included on the National Register of Historic Places.
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| Historic Buildings in Downtown Omaha | ||
|---|---|---|
| Place name | Location | Notes |
| Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot | 1215 Jones Street | Built in 1916. |
| Aquila Court Building | 1615 Howard Street | Built in 1923. |
| Astro Theater | 2001 Farnam Street | Built in 1926. Today it is called The Rose. |
| Beebe and Runyan Furniture Showroom and Warehouse | 105 South 9th Street | Built in 1913. |
| Bemis Omaha Bag Company Building | 614-624 South 11th Street | Built in 1887. |
| Burlington Headquarters Building | 1004 Farnam Street | Built in 1879. |
| Burlington Station | 925 South 10th Street | Built in 1898. |
| City National Bank Building (Omaha) | 405 S 16th St | Built in 1910. |
| Douglas County Courthouse | 1819 Farnam Street | Built in 1908. |
| Eggerss-O'Flyng Building | 801 South 15th Street | Built in 1902. |
| Farnam Building | 1613 Farnam Street | Built in 1929. |
| Federal Office Building | 110 South 15th Street | Built in 1934. |
| First National Bank Building | 300-312 South 16th Street | Built in 1917. |
| Flatiron Hotel | 1722 St. Mary's Avenue | Built in 1914. |
| G.C. Moses Block | 1234-1244 South 13th Street | Built in 1887. |
| Goodrich Building | 1415 Farnam Street | Built in 1900. |
| Hill Hotel | 505 South 16th Street | Built in 1919. |
| Horbach Building | 1205-1207 Harney Street | Built in 1894. |
| Hospe Music Warehouse | 109-111 South 10th Street | Built in 1919. |
| J.L. Brandeis and Sons Store Building | 200 South 16 Street | Built in 1906. |
| Keeline Building | 319 South 17th Street | Built in 1911. |
| Mason School | 1012 South 24th Street | Built in 1888. |
| Nash Block | 902-912 Farnam Street | Built in 1905. |
| Omaha Bolt, Nut and Screw Building | 1316 Jones Street | Built in 1889. |
| Omaha Central High School | 124 North 20th Street | Built in 1912. |
| Old Omaha Public Library building | 1823 Harney Street | Built in 1891. |
| Omaha National Bank Building | 1650 Farnam Street | Built in 1889. |
| Orpheum Theater | 409 South 16th Street | Built between 1892 and 1927. |
| Paxton Hotel | 1403 Farnam Street | Original building built in 1882, rebuilt in 1928. |
| Poppleton Block | 1001 Farnam Street | Built in 1890. |
| Redick Tower | 1504 Harney Street | Built in 1930. |
| Rose Realty-Securities Building | 305 South 16th Street | Built in 1916. |
| Sanford Hotel | 1913 Farnam Street | Constructed in 1913. |
| Simon Brothers Company | 1024 Dodge Street | Built in 1919. |
| Christian Specht Building | 1110 Douglas Street | Built in 1884. |
| Standard Oil Company Building of Nebraska | 500 South 18th Street | |
| Trinity Cathedral (Omaha, Nebraska) | 113 North 18th St | Built in 1880. |
| Union Station | 801 South 10th Street | Built in 1931, now houses the Durham Museum. |
Getting Around Downtown Omaha
Omaha's main east-west street, Dodge Street, starts downtown. It's a one-way exit from I-480 after crossing the Missouri River from Iowa. This street was part of the old Lincoln Highway. It has several historic buildings, like the Kirschbraun and Sons Creamery, Inc. and the Simon Brothers Company. Dodge Street used to have the Old Post Office. It joins with Douglas Street at 30th Street and becomes a six-lane, two-way road.
The City of Omaha is thinking about building a light rail system. This would run from NoDo to the Henry Doorly Zoo area in South Omaha. The historic Omaha port was downtown. Many businesses were along the river to serve steamboats. Today, that same area has Miller's Landing, where riverboat tours start. It also has the new Missouri River Pedestrian Bridge for walkers to Council Bluffs.
The Union Pacific Railroad has had its headquarters downtown since 1865. They built a bridge, shops, and a station here. In 1989, they put all their train operations in the renovated Union Pacific Harriman Dispatch Center. In 2002, they opened a new headquarters building downtown. Similarly, the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad built their headquarters downtown in 1879. Their depot downtown was recently turned into fancy apartments.
Environmental History in Downtown Omaha
In 1889, a company called ASARCO built several metal processing plants downtown. By 1915, it was the largest lead refinery in the world. In 1972, it was found that the plant was releasing a lot of lead into the air and ground. In 1995, ASARCO made a plan to clean up the site. The company was fined in 1996 for polluting the Missouri River. The plant closed in 1997. After a big cleanup, the land was given to the City of Omaha to become a park. A large area of North Omaha, including parts of downtown, was declared a Superfund site. This means it needed a major environmental cleanup.
Images for kids
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Rialto Theater circa 1919
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Gene Eppley's Hotel Fontenelle.
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The 1898 Omaha Post Office.
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