Omaha, Nebraska

Built in 1931, Omaha's Art Deco Union Station served 10,000 passengers daily during WWII and now houses the Durham Museum, preserving the grand waiting hall with its original fixtures.

Imagine a time when train travel was the height of luxury and efficiency. That's the story of Omaha's Union Station, a stunning example of Art Deco architecture right here in the Midwest. Built by Union Pacific, the…

Imagine a bustling industrial area with 24 buildings, now gone, that once defined Omaha's economic power. This was Jobbers Canyon. From the late 1800s through the 1900s, Jobbers Canyon was the heart of Omaha's wholesale…

Imagine the roar of machinery as this plant churned out 450,000 vehicles, employing 1,200 people. From 1916 to 1932, the Omaha Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant at 1514 Cuming Street was a major manufacturing hub. It…

Imagine the elaborate Victorian lifestyle of an industrialist and philanthropist in this once grand home. This spot was once the site of the Guy C. Barton House, a stunning mansion that was the height of Omaha society.…

Pull over! This spot right here is rumored to be the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich! The Blackstone Hotel opened its doors in 1915. It quickly became *the* place to stay in Omaha, hosting presidents like Harry Truman…

Pull over here for a taste of old-world Omaha! Little Bohemia was once the heart of the city's Czech community. Beginning in the 1880s, Czech immigrants flocked to this area, creating a vibrant neighborhood they…

Imagine throwing the most lavish party Omaha had ever seen—that’s exactly what George and Sarah Joslyn did when they built this castle! In 1903, George Joslyn, a self-made millionaire thanks to his Western Newspaper…

This unassuming building stands as a testament to Omaha's strength, having weathered one of the city's darkest days. The Webster Telephone Exchange Building, designed by architect Thomas Rogers Kimball, became a crucial…

Take a look at that rowhouse – it’s a testament to talent overcoming barriers. Designed by Clarence W. Wigington, it's a reminder of the rich history right here in Omaha. In 1909, Wigington, a pioneering African…

Ever wonder where railroad surgeons lived back in the day? This is the Dr. Samuel D. Mercer House, once home to the chief surgeon of the Union Pacific Railroad and founder of Omaha's first hospital. In 1885, Dr. Mercer…

Founded in 1894 as Riverview Park Zoo, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo houses the world's largest indoor desert and nocturnal exhibit under a 137-foot geodesic dome.

This WWII minesweeper braved enemy waters and now rests far from any ocean. The USS Hazard, AM-240, is an Admirable-class minesweeper commissioned in 1944. It served in the Pacific Theater during World War II,…

Right here, at this spot, stood a place of learning and community for generations of Deaf Nebraskans: the Nebraska School for the Deaf. Founded in 1869, the school provided kindergarten through twelfth-grade education…

Ever wonder where you can find a vibrant celebration of Latino culture in the heartland? That's El Museo Latino, the first Latino art and history museum in the Midwest. Founded in 1993 by Magdalena García, the museum…

This building was the heart of the Union Stockyards, once a major hub for the livestock industry. Built in 1926, the Livestock Exchange Building served as the headquarters for all the action. Designed by architect…

Originally a supply depot for the Indian Wars, Fort Omaha played a crucial role in the westward expansion of the United States. What started as Sherman Barracks in the 1860s became a major supply hub for the U.S. Army…

This unassuming guardhouse witnessed frontier justice firsthand, holding prisoners from across the spectrum of the Wild West. Built in 1883, the Fort Omaha Guardhouse served as a holding facility for Native American,…

Pull over here for a minute – this unassuming house was once home to a military leader who played a significant role in the history of the American West. General George Crook lived here while commanding the Department…

You're about to roll past a spot that literally changed the map of America! This unassuming museum sits on ground once considered the very edge of the American frontier. In 1869, Council Bluffs became the official…

Ever wonder about the little house on the edge of town? It's more than just a quirky building; it's a testament to the dreams of two performers named Jean and Inez Bregant. Jean and Inez were little people who toured…

Imagine the glamorous travelers who stayed at this grand hotel in the early 20th century. This isn't just a building; it's a window into Council Bluffs' bustling past! The Chieftain Hotel opened in 1927, rising eight…

Have you ever seen a statue so striking, it stops you in your tracks? That's the Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial, also known as the Black Angel, right here in Council Bluffs. It's more than just art; it's a story etched in…

Pull over for a minute; this spot connects to one of the biggest projects in American history, the Transcontinental Railroad. This beautiful Second Empire mansion was built in 1869 for Grenville M. Dodge. Dodge was no…

Ever wonder what a house made of steel looks like? You're about to find out! The Henry B. Neef House, right here in Omaha, was the first steel-frame house in the area. Henry Neef built this place back in 1929,…

Dare to visit the 'Squirrel Cage Jail,' a bizarre rotary jail where cells rotated like a lazy susan. The Pottawattamie County Jail, also known as the 'Squirrel Cage Jail' because of its unique design, opened in 1885.…

At 226 Pearl Street in Council Bluffs sits one of the strangest buildings ever to hold prisoners: the Pottawattamie County Jail, better known as the Squirrel Cage Jail. Built in 1885 for about thirty thousand dollars to…

Imagine this peaceful forest once echoed with the sounds of a nation at war. During the Mexican-American War, which lasted from 1846 to 1848, the strategic importance of the Missouri River led to the establishment of…

Ever wonder what banking was like on the wild frontier? You're driving near the Bank of Florence Museum, a place with a surprisingly colorful past.The original Bank of Florence operated here in the 1850s. It was a…

Ralston, Nebraska, sits in the rolling plains of Douglas County, part of the vast Western Corn Belt Plains. This land, once tallgrass prairie, saw its transformation begin with agriculture. Early settlers, drawn by the…

This old mill isn't just a pretty landmark; it once powered the entire Florence community! Back in 1846, this grist mill, later known as the Weber Mill, was built. It harnessed the power of the nearby water to grind…

La Vista, Nebraska, nestled in the rolling hills of Sarpy County within the Heartland region, began as a vision of suburban expansion. Its story is one of transformation from agricultural land, part of the vast Western…

Imagine this quiet spot buzzing with activity, a crucial hub connecting Native American tribes to the expanding American economy. This was Cabanne's Trading Post. Established around 1822 by the American Fur Company, it…

This unassuming house has some serious history tied to a Mexican-American War veteran. Robert McCarty built this as a one-story home back in 1865.McCarty wasn't just any builder; he fought in the Battle of Buena Vista…

In the autumn of 1948, the Strategic Air Command moved its headquarters to Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska, placing the nerve center of America's nuclear arsenal in the geographic heart of the continent. The…

Father Edward Flanagan founded Boys Town in 1917 with $90 in borrowed money, eventually building a self-governing community for homeless boys that inspired the 1938 Spencer Tracy film.

In December 1917, an Irish-born Catholic priest named Edward Flanagan borrowed ninety dollars from a friend and rented a drafty Victorian mansion in downtown Omaha to house homeless and neglected boys. He had one…

Papillion, Nebraska, situated in Sarpy County within the Western Corn Belt Plains, began as a small settlement along the Papillion Creek. Its early growth was tied to agriculture, typical of the Heartland region, with…

Sarpy County, Nebraska, began with the Missouri River. The area, part of the Western Corn Belt Plains, offered fertile land that drew early settlers. The river wasn't just a boundary; it was the lifeblood of the region,…

Imagine trying to build a new life, bridging two very different worlds. That's what Moses and Eliza Merrill attempted here in the 1830s. The Merrills were missionaries who came to this area, then the edge of the…

Imagine Nebraska with no towns. That's what it was like until this spot became the first! Fort Atkinson, established in 1819, was the first U.S. Army post west of the Missouri River, planted firmly in the newly acquired…

Springfield, Nebraska, sits nestled in the rolling hills of Sarpy County, part of the vast Western Corn Belt Plains. The town's location along the Platte River proved crucial to its early development, offering fertile…

Meadow, Nebraska sits nestled in the rolling hills of Sarpy County, part of the broad sweep of the Western Corn Belt Plains. The first European settlers arrived in this area seeking fertile land, drawn by the promise of…

Right here, under what's now farmland, lies the story of a sunken treasure! It's not gold doubloons, but the contents of the steamboat Bertrand, lost on its way to the Montana gold rush. Back in 1865, the Bertrand was…