List of Omaha landmarks explained

This article covers Omaha Landmarks designated by the City of Omaha Landmark Heritage Preservation Commission. In addition, it includes structures or buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and those few designated as National Historic Landmarks, indicating their varying level of importance to the city, state and nation.

The following list includes individual properties, as well as historic districts and National Historic Landmarks in Omaha. Residential, commercial, religious, educational, agricultural and socially significant locations are included.

Landmark preservation in Omaha

Omaha has sought to preserve its historic landmarks for more than 50 years. The first city report on historical sites written in 1959,[1] and the first buildings in the city were listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in the 1960s. The demolition of the Old Post Office in 1966, along with the Old City Hall the next year, were rallying points for preservationists in the city. Omaha developed a comprehensive plan for landmark preservation in 1980.[2]

Some years, the demands of changing business in Downtown Omaha have overridden the desires of preservationists to maintain historic structures. In 1989, all 24 buildings of the area's "Jobbers Canyon" were demolished, representing the highest number of buildings lost at one time that were listed on the National Register of Historic Places to date.[3] [4] The Christian Specht Building is the only extant building with a cast-iron facade known in Nebraska today, and one of the few built in the state.[5]

The Burlington Train Station, also a downtown historic landmark, sat empty for more than thirty years and was stripped of much of its historical grandeur. In 2006 a group of developers began renovating the building for mixed-use, which will include residential condos.[6] Not all of the buildings lost are deemed significant; the Omaha Auditorium, designed by noted and prolific local architect John Latenser, Sr., was almost universally panned for its gaudy and half-completed construction.[7]

In North Omaha, the historic Strehlow Terrace apartments have been renamed "Chambers Court" in honor of locally renowned Nebraska Legislator Ernie Chambers.[8] Fort Omaha, an Indian War-era supply depot for the United States Army, has been re-purposed as a local community college.[9]

In April 2001 the Nebraska Methodist Health System purchased the Indian Hills Theater on West Dodge Road and. In June it announced plans to demolish the theater and replace it with a parking lot. Indian Hills was the last drum-shaped, three-projector Cinerama theater in the United States. Despite grassroots formation of the Indian Hills Preservation Society, letters of support from Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh and Kirk Douglas, and the unanimous vote of the Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission finding that the theater should be declared a Landmark of the City of Omaha, in August 2001 the building was demolished.[10]

City of Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission

See main article: Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission. The first comprehensive preservation ordinance in Nebraska was adopted by the Omaha City Council in 1977.[11] The commission was created after the demolition of the Old Post Office, when the pro-preservation organization Landmarks, Inc. advocated its creation.[12]

As of 2007, more than 90 buildings and structures in Omaha have received federal historic preservation tax incentives, and have been listed by the City of Omaha as Certified Historic Rehabs.[13]

National recognition

Many historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects in Omaha have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Three have been designated as National Historic Landmarks by the United States Secretary of the Interior for their historical significance. However, no Omaha Landmarks have been designated National Historic Landmarks, and many have not been listed on the National Historic Register.

Landmarks in Omaha

NameBuiltLocationNRHP?[14] Omaha Landmark?
Ackerhurst Dairy Barn193515220 Military Road
41.3367°N -96.1528°W
YesYes
Ansonia Apartments19292221-23 Jones Street NoYes
Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot18871207–1215 Jones StreetYesNo
Aquila Court Building19231615 Howard StreetYesNo
Astro Theater19262001 Farnam StreetYesNo
Bank of Florence18568502 North 30th StreetYesYes[15]
John P. Bay House18872024 Binney StreetNoYes
Beebe and Runyan Furniture Showroom and Warehouse1913105 South 9th StreetYesNo
Bemis Omaha Bag Company Building1887NW Corner of 11th and Jones StreetsYesYes
Bemis Park Landmark Heritage District1889Cuming Street on the south to Hawthorne Avenue on the north; Glenwood Avenue on the west to North 33rd Street on the eastNoYes[16]
Blackstone Hotel1916302 South 36th StreetYesYes
Boys Town191714100 Crawford StreetNational Historic Landmark[17] No
Bradford-Pettis House1910400 South 39th StreetYesYes
Brandeis-Millard House & Carriage House1904500 South 38th Street & 3815 Dewey AvenueYesYes
Breckenridge-Gordon House19093611 Jackson StreetNoYes
Broatch Building18801209 Harney Street NoYes
Broomfield Rowhouse19132502 Lake Street YesNo
Harry Buford House19291804 North 30th StreetNoYes
Burlington Headquarters Building18791004 Farnam StreetYesYes
Burlington Station1898925 South 10th StreetYesNo
Cabanne Archeological Site1822Located on the Missouri River between Omaha and Fort Calhoun (undisclosed location)Yes[18] No
Calvin Memorial Presbyterian Church19103105 North 24th StreetYesYes
Center School (Omaha, Nebraska)18931730 South 11th StreetYesYes
Charles D. McLaughlin House1905507 South 38th Street YesNo
Christian Specht Building18881110 Douglas StreetYesYes
Charles Storz House19091901 Wirt StreetNoYes
Columbian School18923819 Jones StreetYesYes
Joel N. Cornish House18861404 South 10th Street YesNo
Country Club Historic District1925North 50th Street on the east to North 56th Street on the west; from Corby Street on the north to Seward Street on the southNoYes
General Crook House18795730 North 30th Street YesYes
Dietz Memorial United Methodist Church18881423 South 10th StreetNoYes
Dr. Samuel D. Mercer House18853920 Cuming StreetYesNo
Douglas County Courthouse19121700 Farnam StreetYesNo
Drake Court Apartments and the Dartmore Apartments Historic District1916Jones Street on the south to St. Marys Avenue on the north; from South 20th Street on the east to South 23rd Street on the westYesYes
Eggerss-O'Flyng Building1902801 South 15th StreetYesYes
Epeneter House1905502 North 40th StreetNoYes
Farnam Building19291613 Farnam Street YesNo
Federal Office Building1934106 S. 15th St.YesNo
Field Club Historic District1898Pacific Avenue on the north to Center Street on the south; South 32nd Avenue on east to South 36th Street on the westYesYes
First National Bank Building1917Corner of 16th and Farnam street YesNo
First Unitarian Church of Omaha19173114 Harney StreetYesYes
Flatiron Hotel19121722 St. Mary's AvenueYesNo
Florence1846Weber Street on the south to I-680 on the north; Pershing Drive on the east to North Ridge Drive on the westNoYes
Florentine Apartments1911907 South 25th Street NoYes
Ford Hospital1916121 South 25th StreetYesNo
Fort Omaha Guardhouse1883Intersection of North 30th and Ellison AvenueNoYes
Fort Omaha1868Fort Street on the South to Laurel Avenue on the North; North 30th Street on the east to North 33rd Street on the westYes Yes
Franklin School19104302 South 39th AvenueYesNo
G.C. Moses Block18871234–1244 South 13th StreetYesNo
Gallagher Building18881902–06 South 13th StreetYesYes
Garneau-Kilpatrick House18903100 Chicago StreetYesYes
Gen. George Crook House18795730 North 30th StreetYesNo
George F. Shepard House19031802 Wirt StreetNoYes
George H. Kelly House19041924 Binney StreetYesYes
Georgia Row House18901040 South 29th StreetYesNo
Georgia Apartments18901040 South 29th StreetNoYes
Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens19133202 Woolworth AvenueNoYes
Gold Coast Historic District1880North 36th Street on the east to North 40th on the west; Jones Street on the north to Cuming Street on the southYesNo
Goodrich Building19001415 Farnam StreetNoYes
Gottlieb Storz House19053708 Farnam Street YesYes
Grossman Apartment1904102-108 South 36th StreetNoYes
Havens-Page House1900101 North 39th StreetYesNo
Hicks House18923017 Pacific StreetNoYes
Hicks Terrace18903005-3011 Pacific Street, 1102 South 30th AvenueNoYes
Hill Hotel1919505 South 16th Street YesYes
Holy Family Church1883915 North 18th StreetYesYes
Horbach Building18941205–1207 Harney StreetNoYes
Hospe Music Warehouse1919101 South 10th Street YesNo
Howard Street Apartment District1885Harney Street on the north to Landon Court on the south; South 22nd Street on the east to South 24th Street on the westYesNo
Immaculate Conception Church and School1926 2708 South 24th Street[19] YesNo
J.L. Brandeis and Sons Store Building1906210 South 16th StreetYesNo
Jewell Building19232221 North 24th StreetYesYes
Joslyn Castle19033902 Davenport StreetYesYes
Keeline Building1911319 South 17th StreetYesNo
Keirle House19053017 Mormon StreetNoYes
Kirschbraun and Sons Creamery, Inc.1917901 Dodge Street YesNo
Kuncl-Hruska House18891732 South 15th Street NoYes
LaCasa Pizza Sign19574432 Leavenworth StreetNoYes
Lincoln Highway (Omaha)1913North 183 Street and West Dodge Road northwest towards North 192 StreetNoYes
Livestock Exchange Building19264920 South 30th StreetYesYes
Lizzie Robinson House19102864 Corby StreetYesYes
Malcolm X Housesite19253448 Pinkney Street (house was demolished before listing) YesNo
Mary Rogers Kimball House19062236 St. Mary's Avenue YesYes
Mason School18881012 South 24th StreetYesYes
Mason Terrace & Van Closter Residence1889,18901001 Park Avenue, 2911-21 Mason Street NoYes
Medlar Building1903416 South 14th StreetNoYes
Megeath House1924617 North 90th Street NoYes
Melrose Apartments1916602 North 33rd StreetNoYes
Military Road Segment1857Begins at Nebraska Highway 64 as Nebraska Highway 28K, ends at Bennington Road near North 204th StreetYesNo
Miller Park1891Saratoga Street on the south to Redick Avenue on the north; Florence Boulevard on the east to North 30th Street on the westNoNo
Mormon Pioneer Cemetery18463301 State StreetNoYes
Nash Block1907902 Farnam StreetYesYes
Neble House18942752 South 10th StreetNoYes
Normandie Apartments18981102 Park Avenue YesYes
Notre Dame Academy and Convent19243501 State Street YesYes
Old Market1880Harney Street on the north to Jackson Street on the south; South 10th Street on the east to South 13th Street on the westYesYes
Old People's Home19173325 Fontenelle BoulevardYesNo
Omaha High School1900124 North 20th StreetYesYes
Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District1880Jackson Street on the north to the Union Pacific main line on the south; South 15th Avenue on the west and 8th Street on the eastYesNo
Omaha Bolt, Nut and Screw Building18891316 Jones Street YesYes
Omaha National Bank Building18881650 Farnam StreetYesNo
Omaha Public Library (building)18941823 Harney StreetYesYes
Omaha Quartermaster Depot Historic District1881Hickory Street on the south to Woolworth Avenue on the north; South 22nd Street on the south to the Union Pacific Railroad Yards on the westYesNo
Orpheum Theater1927409 South 16th StreetYesNo
Packer's National Bank Building19074939 South 24th StreetYesYes
Park School19181320 South 29th Street YesYes
Parlin, Orendorff and Martin Plow Company Building1906707 South 11th Street YesNo
Poppleton Block18901001 Farnam StreetYesYes
Porter-Thomsen House19023426 Lincoln Boulevard YesYes
Prague Hotel18981402 South 13th StreetYesNo
Prospect Hill Cemetery18563202 Parker StreetNoYes
Redick Tower19301504 Harney Street YesNo
Mary Reed House1909 503 South 36th Street NoYes
Riviera Theatre19262001 Farnam StreetNoYes
Robbins School19104302 South 39th AvenueNoYes
Robinson Memorial Church of God in Christ1916[20] 2318 North 26th Street NoYes
Rose Realty-Securities Building1916305 South 16th StreetYesNo
Rosewater School19103764 South 13th StreetYesYes
Sacred Heart Catholic Church Complex19022206 Binney Street YesNo
Saddle Creek Underpass1934Dodge Street (US 6) over Saddle Creek RoadYesNo
Saint Joseph Parish Complex18861730 South 16th Street YesYes
Site of Saint Mary's AcademyYesNo
St. Cecilia's Cathedral1905701 North 40th StreetYesYes
St. John's A.M.E. Church1943 2402 North 22nd StreetYesyes
St. John's Collegiate Church18882500 California Plaza NoYes
St. Martin of Tours Episcopal Church18992312 J StreetYesYes
St. Matthias' Episcopal Church18881423 South 10th StreetYesNo
St. Philomena's Cathedral and Rectory1908–1910St. Francis Cabrini Parish, 1335 South 10th Street YesYes
St. Regis Apartments1919617 South 37th StreetYesNo
Sanford Hotel19161913 Farnam Street YesYes
Saunders School1899415 North 41st AvenueYesNo
Simon Brothers Company1919Ford Warehouse, 1024 Dodge StreetYesNo
Slater House18901050 South 32nd Street NoYes
South Omaha Bridge1936Located on Hwys 275/92 over the Missouri RiverYesNo
South Omaha Main Street Historic District1883South 24th Street between M Street on the north and O Street on the southYesNo
Springwell Danish Cemetery18896326 Hartman AvenueNoYes
Standard Oil Company Building of Nebraska1921500 South 18th StreetYesNo
Steiner Rowhouse No. 11909638-42 South 19th StreetYesNo
Steiner Rowhouse No. 219111906–10 Jones Street YesNo
Strehlow Terrace19052024 North Sixteenth StreetYesNo
Swartz Printing Company Building1910714 South 15th StreetYesYes
Swoboda Bakery18891422 William StreetYesNo
The Berkeley Apartments1915649-51 South 19th StreetYesNo
The Melrose1916602 North 33rd StreetYesNo
The Sherman18972501 North 16th StreetYesNo
Thomas Kilpatrick House18903100 Chicago Street NoYes
Trans-Mississippi Exposition Site18981920 Pinkney StreetNoYes
Trinity Cathedral1880113 N. 18th StreetYesNo
Union Passenger Terminal1931801 South 10th StreetYesNo
Union State Bank Building19271904 Farnam StreetNoYes
19442497 Freedom Park RoadNational Historic Landmark No
19522497 Freedom Park RoadYesNo
Vinton School19072120 Deer Park Boulevard YesYes
Vinton Street Commercial Historic District1890s[21] Along Vinton Street between Elm Street on the west and South 17th Street on the eastNoYes
Wattles House1895320 South 37th StreetNoYes
Weber Mill1846 9102 North 30th StreetYesYes
Webster Telephone Exchange Building19062213 Lake StreetYesNo
West Central-Cathedral Landmark District1880s[22] North 38th Street between Capitol Avenue on the south and Cuming Street on the northNoYes
West Farnam Apartments19123817 Dewey Avenue NoYes
Zabriskie House18893524 Hawthorne AvenueYesYes
The House of Marlon Brando19001026 S. 32nd StNoYes
The House of Montgomery Clift19102101 S. 33rd StNoYes

Former Landmarks

Being listed on the NRHP or as an Omaha Landmark does not permanently protect buildings against destruction. Several landmarks in Omaha have been demolished through a variety of fashions.

NameLocationBuiltDestroyedNotes[23]
Clarinda & Page Apartments1027 Farnam Street, 305-11 Turner Boulevard 19092014Demolished by the Mutual of Omaha for corporate infrastructure development TBD.
Monmouth Park School4508 North 33rd Street 19031995Declared a health and safety hazard and razed.
Guy C. Barton House3522 Farnam St18991982Destroyed in a fire
Jobbers' Canyon Historic DistrictDowntown OmahaVarious1989Removed from the NRHP after buildings were demolished.[24] It was located at Farnam Street on the north to Jackson Street on the south; South Eighth Street on the east to South Tenth Street on the west
Kennedy Building1517 Jackson Street1910Still Stands
Leone, Florentine and Carpathia Apartment Buildings907-911 South 25 Street1909Florentine Apartment Building still stands
The Berkeley Apartments907-911 South 25 Street1909Still Stands
Butternut Building714-716 South 10th Street, Omaha, Nebraska19092004Destroyed by a fire.[25]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. (1959) Historical Sites in Douglas County, Nebraska. City of Omaha Planning Department
  2. Becker, H.W. (1982) A Comprehensive Program for Historic Preservation in Omaha. Nebraska State Historical Society.
  3. Gratz, R.B. (1996) Living City: How America's Cities Are Being Revitalized by Thinking Small in a Big Way, John Wiley and Sons. p. V.
  4. National Trust for Historic Preservation and Zagars, J. (1997) Preservation Yellow Pages: The Complete Information Source for Homeowners, Communities, and Professionals, John Wiley and Sons. p.80.
  5. (nd) Christian Specht Building
  6. Web site: 2007 . The Burlington . The Burlington website . 2007-05-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225424/http://www.burlingtonstation.com/burlington_station.pdf . September 27, 2007 .
  7. http://www.omaha.lib.ne.us/earlyomaha/buildings/omahaauditorium.html "Omaha Auditorium"
  8. Web site: Chambers Court: Building to receive millions in renovations. . WOWT.com . 2007-04-07.
  9. (n.d.) Fort Omaha HistoricOmaha.Com
  10. Foster, M. (2001) "Curtain closes on Omaha Theater", National Trust for Historic Preservation. Retrieved 8/30/07.
  11. http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/planning/ "Planning,"
  12. http://www.omahalandmarks.org/about.html "About"
  13. http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/landmarks/certified%20rehabs/Default.htm "Certified Historic Rehabs in Omaha"
  14. (2007) National Register of Historic Places - Nebraska, Douglas County. National Park Service. Retrieved 6/7/07.
  15. http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/landmarks/designated_landmarks/landmarks/46/Default.htm Bank of Florence
  16. (nd) Bemis Park Landmark Heritage District . City of Omaha Historical Landmarks Preservation Commission. Retrieved 5/29/07.
  17. (nd) National Historic Landmarks Survey . National Park Service. Retrieved 6/4/07.
  18. (nd) National Register of Historic Places - NE, Douglas County . Retrieved 6/7/07.
  19. http://www.latinmassomaha.org/#!location/csxp "Location".
  20. Web site: Mother Lizzie Robinson . 2023-09-24 . www.emanuelministries.org.
  21. Web site: Historic Vinton Street Commercial District . 2023-09-25 . www.visitomaha.com . en-us.
  22. Web site: Fletcher . Adam F. C. . 2016-04-05 . History of North Omaha's Cuming Street . 2023-09-25 . North Omaha History . en.
  23. http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/planning/landmarks Omaha Landmarks
  24. (2002) National Register of Historic Places Listings. National Park Service. Retrieved 6/7/07.
  25. http://www.ketv.com/news/3969440/detail.html "Butternut Will Be Demolished"