Jefferson Square (Omaha) facts for kids

Jefferson Square was a well-known public park in Omaha, Nebraska. It was one of the last original parks left in the city. The park was located between North 15th, 16th, Chicago, and Cass Streets.

It officially opened on November 25, 1865. Sadly, the city tore it down on March 18, 1969. This was done to build Interstate 480 in Downtown Omaha. Before it was removed, Jefferson Square was an important place. It was home to Omaha's very first school. People also thought about building the first Omaha Public Library and the Omaha Market House there.

A Look Back at Jefferson Square

How the Park Began

The park was first measured in 1856 by Alfred D. Jones. Its original size was about 264 feet by 280 feet. It officially opened to the public in 1865. Jefferson Square was one of three parks planned for the downtown area when Omaha was first being built.

Early settlers in the area sometimes saw black bears in the park. Later, some even wished there were bison there to hunt!

Important Moments at the Park

Omaha's very first public school was built at Jefferson Square. It was a small, one-room wooden building. This school opened in September 1863 on the park's southwest corner. It was later moved in 1865.

In 1875, something exciting happened at the park. A businessman named Edward Rosewater launched the Omaha Bee hot air balloon there. This was a big advertising event for his newspaper. It was the first hot air balloon in Omaha. The launch caused a lot of excitement as it floated across the city!

In 1893, the Government of Omaha faced a legal challenge. They wanted to build the Omaha Market House in the park. A local citizen disagreed and took them to court. Public opinion and the law quickly sided with the citizen. The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the city could not build on the park land. This decision meant the land had to stay a park forever.

Jefferson Square also hosted some events for the 1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition. This was a huge fair that brought many visitors to Omaha. In the 1910s, the park was a very popular spot. Thousands of people were said to visit it every day.

The Park's Later Years and End

By the 1930s, the park became a gathering place for people who didn't have homes. The city built public baths there, which were very helpful and popular. However, by the end of that decade, some people saw the park as less appealing. City planners started thinking about changing the area.

In the late 1950s, plans for the new Interstate Highway System began. Jefferson Square was chosen as a site for demolition to make way for a new highway. When the park was torn down in 1969 for Interstate 480, many Omaha citizens tried to save it. They worked hard to preserve the park. Sadly, their efforts were not successful, and the park was lost.