Quick Facts
-Located in Doughlas Country, NE
-Nebraska's largest city
-Population
a)Omaha:492,003
b)Metro Area:832,757
-43rd largest city in the U.S
History
Founded in 1854 by land speculators, Omaha was incorporated as a city in 1897. Omaha, named after an American Indian Tribe, means "those going against the wind or current"- Access Genealogy Indian Tribal Records. Omahans continue to live up to the name.
Historic Sites
-Fort Omaha is best known as the site of the famous Trial of Chief Standing Bear, where Native Americans won the legal right of habeas corpus.
-Boys Town, the historic home for boys founded in 1917 by Father Flanagan and made famous by the 1938 movie starring Mickey Rooney, continues to serve as a premier refuge for abused, abandoned and neglected boys and girls.
- The Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters archives the journeys and hardships faced by the Mormon Pioneers who stopped in Omaha en route to Utah.
- The Gerald R. Ford Birth Site and Gardens is a memorial to our country's 38th President and First Lady. * The Malcolm X Birth Site is a memorial to the civil rights leader and his contributions to our country.
About Omaha
Five Fortune 500 headquartes:
1. Berkshire Hathaway
2. ConAgra Foods
3. Union Pacific Railroad
4. Mutual of Omaha Insurance
5. Peter Kiewit Sons' Construction
"Omaha ranks eight among the nation's 50 largest cities in both per-capita bilionaires and Fortune 500 companies. No coastal city can claim a ranking as high as omaha on both lists."-USA Today
-Leader in the telecommunications and information services industries. With 1,000 information, data processing and telecommunications companies providing over 50,000 jobs in Omaha. If you're calling for a hotel reservation chances are you're calling Omaha, home to the Hyatt, Marriott, Radisson and Omni reservation centers.
-Union Pacific's Harriman Dispatching Center assists in monitoring a nationwide railroad network composed of 25,707 miles of track and up to 2,200 trains.
-Billionaire investor Warren Buffett calls Omaha home. Buffett's local holdings include Borsheims, the nation's largest independent jewelry store and Nebraska Furniture Mart, America's single largest home furnishing store.
-Omaha steaks, the nation's largest marketer of steaks and other frozen gourmet foods.
- Saddle Creek Records, one of the hottest Indie rock labels representing Conor Oberst, Bright Eyes, the Faint and Cursive. The 'Omaha' sound is sweeping the nation.
Points of Interest
-Downtown Omaha continues to sizzle with billions of dolars being invested into new developments. A new $22 milion one-of-a-kind pedestrian bridge is S-curving its way across the Missouri River. When complete, in November of 2008, it is expected to be one of the longest pedestrian bridges ever built, and connect nearly 105 miles of trails. In addition, a $2 millions art-filled plaza will be at the base of the bridge. Imagine 16 1/2 foot tall grass blowing in the breeze but with a high tech twist. This fiber optic wave sculpture is being designed by Japanese artist Makoto Dei Watanable. The plaza will also include a dancing water display. 26 water jets shooting into the air allowing children to run through them during the day, at night this unique fountain turns into a colorful light display.
-Saddle Creek's new North Downtown development includes a concert hall and lounge. The Slowdown draws top bands from across the country. Film Streams' Ruth Sokolof Theater is a new independent film theater. Academy Award winning director Alexander Payne serves on the advisory board. Hip retailer Urban Outfitters completes a vibe for an area that is on the cutting edge.
-Come face to face with over 900 different species at the internationally renowned Omaha henry Doorly Zoo. Home to the world's largest indoor rainforest, next to the world's largest indoor desert inside the world's largest geodesic dome- the zoo is listed in the travel book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.
-Boys Town's 900-acre campus continues to provide necessary assistance to at-risk children and families from across the nation. The village rests comfortably in west Omaha with 70 homes that care for more than 700 children a year. Boys Town also offers visitors a unique journey through their past in the Hall of History where actor Spencer Tracy's Academy Award for his role in the movie "Boys Town" is displayed. The Dowd Cahpel serves as a shrine to Boys Town founder Father Flanagan; you can also visit his original home which is maintained on the campus.
-The Old Market is a true merging of old and new. The historic warehouse district has been tranformed into Omaha's art, Shopping and dining district. Unique shops line rustic cobblestone streets.
-Qwest center Omaha Convention Center and Arena attracts big name talent while providing a spacious technology rich venue for conventions. The 250,000 sq.ft. facility is complimented by the $2 million public art project, 'Illumina'. The display consist of more than 40 sculptures that are inspired by the 13th Century Carnival of Venice designed by artist Matthew Placzek.
-Three Smithsonian Affiliate museums:
- The Joslyn Art Museum features extensive collections from Calude Monet, Jackson Pollock, Dale Chihuly and more.
- The Durham Museum, America's first art deco style train station, invites you to hop aboard the Harry S. Truman's press train.
- The Strategic Air and Space Museum includes 300,000 sq.ft. dedicated to the nation's most prized and rarely displayed military aircraft.
-The award winning Omaha Children's Museum atracts national children's exhibits and provides families with educational hands-on activities.
-The Holland Performing Arts Center, inspired by the legend-ary Musikverein in Vienna, is responsible for bringing some of the nation's top act to Omaha. With outstanding acoustics, this venue is considered one of the best sounding concert halls in the country.
-Lauritzen Gardens - Omaha's Botanical Center. You'll discover over 100 acres of lush fragrance, rare foliage and incredible works of art woven into nature.
-Hot Shops Art Center is a unique gallery featuring glass blowing, iron forging and sculpture demonstrations.
-Omaha has over 18 public golf courses, including courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jeff Brauer and Tom Sieckman.
Omaha Inventions
TV Dinner, Reuben Sandwich and Raisin Bran
