This episode is going to explore a main street older than Omaha with more history per block than any other neighborhood in Omaha! The old Florence Main Street is packed with old buildings, interesting characters and good stories worth sharing. Included here is an overview of Winter Quarters landmarks, memories of buildings that have been lost, and …

Omaha has a complicated history with the Missouri River. In the last 170 years, the river has soaked the city over and over, especially in the flood plain known as East Omaha. In this episode, we’re going to explore the neighborhoods, the towns, and the history of the region around Eppley Airfield, from the bluffs to the river and north of Locust S…

Through exhaustive research and determined learning, Adam has compiled what some have called the most extensive collection of writing on Omaha’s Black history. In today’s episode he is going to introduce some of the most important people, places and events in Omaha’s African American history starting long before the city of Omaha was founded and co…

Learning About East Omaha’s Past — As the city of Omaha and real estate developers consider demolishing a historic neighborhood in East Omaha, Adam shares the history of the area, which includes everything from North 14th Street to the river, from Locust Street to the OPPD power plant. In this episode we learn about old towns and roadhouses, more t…

The Biggest Events in North Omaha History — For more than 10,000 years, the area that forms today’s North Omaha has been hopping with events of all kinds! In today’s episode we’ll do an overview of those events, including the organized and formal events as well as the informal times that carved out the community’s cult Our thanks to our patrons: To…

History of Mob Violence in Omaha — From deep labor divisions to white supremacists, Omaha has a long history of mob violence. Adam shares what some of these battles were, who was in them and who was terrorized by them, and how they affect the city still. Our thanks to our patrons: Tony Rathgeber Don Goodrich Bridget Maryalice Matt Martin Michael Wa…

When middle and upper class people decided to build their fine homes and mansions in the Kountze Place neighborhood, they brought their churches with them. In this episode Adam shares the denominations, the buildings and the legacies of the dozen historic churches in the neighborhood still today. Our thanks to our patrons: Tony Rathgeber Don Goodri…

From the rolling prairie savannas and the deforested Ponca Hills of the 1850s, to urban giants and annihilated heritage trees, North Omaha has a long history of different nature In this episode Adam will explore the Florence bench, lost waterways, giant prairies and more that still define the history of nature in the community. Our thanks to our pa…

History of Forest Lawn — Some of the most important people from Omaha’s history have been buried here for more than 130 years. This show explores the timeline, architecture, and burials that made Forest Lawn essential in Omaha. Our thanks to our patrons: Don Goodrich Bridget Maryalice Kimberly Davlin Matt Martin Michael Wagner Joseph Tingley Sarah …

One of the most beautifully preserved streets in North Omaha, Wirt Street’s beautiful homes start at North 16th Street and extends to North 30th Street. This episode focuses on the best features and missing pieces from the past. Our thanks to our patrons: Don Goodrich Bridget Maryalice Kimberly Davlin Matt Martin Michael Wagner Joseph Tingley Sarah…

Demolished by the interstate 50 years ago, the Jefferson Square neighborhood was started by Omaha pioneers in the 1850s. This story shares the successes, failures and interesting facts about what existed in the past. Our thanks to our patrons:Don GoodrichBridget MaryaliceKimberly DavlinMatt MartinMichael WagnerJoseph Tingley Sarah SwansonWattle & D…

Once a stop along Saunders Road, as it meandered from young Omaha City to the old City of Florence, the intersection of 24th and Ames became a busy commercial hub in the suburban Saratoga neighborhood with streetcars, pedestrians, and taxis packing each corner. About 60 years ago, it all started to change, and today there is almost no evidence left…

With more than 1,250 public housing units available across North Omaha in the 1980s, it was hard to imagine that just 25 years later almost all of these buildings would be gone—but that’s exactly what happened. This is a history of the projects in North Omaha, including Hilltop and Pleasantview, Spencer Street, Logan Fontenelle, and others includin…

After more than 150 years of history, surely a place loses some of the details in its past. Today, after researching details for more than 15 years, Adam shares some of the people, places, events, and stories from North Omaha's history that have been lost in our community. Our thanks to our patrons:Matt MartinMichael WagnerSarah SwansonWattle & Dau…

For more than a century, Nebraska textbooks taught students that there was barely any slavery in Nebraska. Now, Adam has uncovered some startling history that hasn't ever been collected in the state's history. Adam, tell us the real story of enslavement in Nebraska.Our thanks to our patrons:Matt MartinMichael WagnerJoseph TingleySarah SwansonJames …

For 50 years, the skies over North Omaha were clogged with glorious July 4th fireworks. The same park where those happened holds a history of golfing, picnics, after school and summer programs, and a lot more, including a long-forgotten baseball history! Adam, tell us about the history of Fontenelle Park.Our thanks to our patrons:Matt MartinEmmy_Ca…

Injustice in Omaha has deep roots, like the 1917 story of a vehement white supremacist in Florence who probably murdered his first wife and framed a man for that murder. Afterwards, he started a riot, got another man lynched, almost murdered his second wife, and kept his successful Omaha real estate business the whole time. Our thanks to our patron…

Originally envisioned as an interstate highway to connect I-480 with I-680, the North Freeway is of the most controversial street projects in Omaha history. By developing a major highway through the heart of North Omaha, the government physically sliced Omaha’s historically African American neighborhood in half, leaving a legacy of controversy and …

A fast roadway across North Omaha has provided more than 150 years of growth and opportunities for neighborhoods and institutions in the community. Here's a review of some of that history, including the story of Jenna Street and more!Our thanks to our patrons:Sarah SwansonJames SechserJeff Rockwell Barb NaughtinLonnie (Hansen) DunbierMike SchillJen…

From the beginning of the community in 1856, there have been countless light, medium, and heavy industries in North Omaha. Food production, railroads, vehicle manufacturing, and many other industries have all been important, and many others. This is a history of industries in North Omaha.Our thanks to our patrons:Sarah SwansonJames SechserJeff Rock…

Did you know that North Omaha has been home to FIVE higher education institutions in its history? It was 1863 when the Town of Saratoga, now located in North Omaha, went to the Nebraska Territorial Legislature and secured a charter for the first-ever University of Nebraska. Unfortunately, their efforts amounted in nil—but their legacy did not. Adam…

Adam has the history of the Omaha Beltline Railroad which was part of the Missouri Pacific. He traces the old right away and depot locations.Our thanks to our patrons:James SechserJeff Rockwell Barb NaughtinLonnie (Hansen) DunbierTim ReederMike SchillJenna SmithDan HedrickRichard GudeDaniel AmmonsSara RogersTroy LewellenJoanne Ferguson CavanaughKri…

Adam Fletcher Sasse gives us the rich history of North Omaha streets from before Omaha was founded, to the present day.Our thanks to our patrons:Jeff Rockwell Gene E PaffordBarb NaughtinLonnie (Hansen) DunbierPaul FeilmannTim ReederMike SchillJenna SmithDan HedrickRichard GudeDaniel AmmonsSara RogersTroy LewellenJoanne Ferguson CavanaughKristine Ge…

KOWH was a soul music radio station in Omaha owned by African Americans including Bob Gibson and Gale Sayers. It was on-air from 1970 to 1979 and our producer Steve loved listening to it in the day. Listen in as Adam fills us in on everything KOWH-FM.Our thanks to our patrons:Jeff RockwellGene E PaffordBarb NaughtinLonnie (Hansen) DunbierPaul Feilm…

Adam has a great rundown of historic structures, parks, and streets in North Omaha. Listen in.Our thanks to our patrons for helping meet expenses. You can help out this volunteer effort by becoming a patron for as little as a dollar a month. Go to Patreon.com/Omaha.Our thanks to our patrons:Jeff RockwellGene E PaffordBarb NaughtinLonnie (Hansen) Du…

Fast food, Italian food, soul food, diners and cafes, barbecues, ice cream stores, caterers, and many, many other types of food fill North Omaha history. These businesses have been run by African Americans, European and Asian immigrants, Hispanic and Latinx people, and white people who moved to the community from across the United States. They have…

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience. Our thanks to Lamb of God Lutheran Chruch in Papillion for letting us use their facility.On Adam’s blog, North Omaha includes all the area in Douglas County, Nebraska, north of Dodge Street and east of North 72nd. In this history of North Omaha, there have been at least a dozen hospitals within…

I’m Steve Sleeper, the producer of the North Omaha History podcast. Adam and I have always wanted to record some episodes in front of a live audience and we got that chance on Dec 13, 2021 when we recorded three episodes. The one you’re about to hear is the history of Cuming Street in North Omaha. Our thanks to Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Papill…

A church minister, newspaper editor, NAACP leader, community activist, and family man, the Rev. John Albert Williams (1866-1933) was a singular leader in a simpler time who faced complex problems and made North Omaha a better place. He was widely recognized in North Omaha, in the Episcopal Church and among his family; however, today his name is nea…

Over more than a 50-year period, one lawyer’s name stands out in the African American history of Omaha. He defended his community constantly, unrelentingly, and powerfully as a journalist and advocate who commanded troops during the Great War. Continuously earning the begrudging respect of his white legal colleagues in Omaha, he was also a founding…

On Veterans Day, 1941, there was a giant parade for the dedication of a new monument to honor the life of John J. Pershing, General of the Armies during World War I. The City of Omaha named a new roadway leading from Abbott Drive to River Drive after him, as well. This wasn’t the beginning of North Omaha’s love affair with this leader though. Adam …

Pioneer cemeteries, Jewish cemeteries, military burials, African American burials, famous people and forgotten people make North Omaha's cemeteries a vital piece of the city's history. These are the final resting places of thousands of people from the 1840s through today.Our thanks to our patrons:Lonnie (Hansen) DunbierPaul FeilmannTim ReederMike S…

History of Department Stores in North Omaha. The idea of going to a single store to shop for many different types of products came around in the 1750s in England. Omaha’s first department stores opened downtown in the 1870s and 1880s, with the biggest ones staying around for a century. However, in a city as segregated as Omaha it was important that…

The oldest neighborhoods in the North Omaha community are Florence and the Near North Side, which is immediately north of North Downtown and south of Pratt Street. Other outlying houses and buildings may exist, but are largely hidden by the newer developments around them. Here are ten of the oldest buildings in North Omaha, all built more than 125 …

The 24th and Lake Historic District is being recognized more and more as a cultural asset to all of Omaha, and to the Midwestern United States overall. The African American heritage of the intersection includes jazz and blues, parades and big bands, and modern social justice movements stemming from the 1950s through today. Adam has is the history o…

When Omaha was founded, Carter Lake didn't even exist! But after a big flood, it became a playground for the people with amusement parks, resorts, a public beach, an airport and a lot more. This is a history of the Carter Lake.Our thanks to our patrons:Mike SchillJenna SmithDan HedrickCarl JacksonRichard GudeDaniel AmmonsSara RogersTroy LewellenKri…

Oftentimes, great leaders take their place in history. However, this right hasn't been given to many African American leaders, especially in Omaha. One man single-handedly roused a generation of political activism, social consciousness, and deliberate action to improve the conditions of newly liberated Black people who settled in Omaha when it was …

The founder of Florence was a pioneer store owner from the Iowa side of the Mississippi River. Then he crossed the Missouri River to stake out his future town. After he died, his wife kept his body in a glass-covered casket in a backyard mausoleum at their Florence house for a year. Here’s the story of James Comey Mitchell, the founder of Florence.…

One neighborhood in North Omaha had a hospital, a half-dozen churches and businesses galore, and a long history. Then it all seemed to disappear. This is a history of the Monmouth Park neighborhood.Our thanks to our patrons:Jenna SmithDan HedrickCarl JacksonKelsey TarrellRichard GudeDaniel AmmonsSara RogersTroy LewellenJoanne Ferguson CavanaughKris…

For more than 150 years, North Omaha has experienced powerful leadership within the community. Some leaders have appealed to African Americans, some to white people, and some have created bridges to support all North Omahans. From the 1950s through the 1980s, one man was regularly credited with the latter. This is a biography of community leader, e…

Dan Desdunes was The Man. For more than 20 years, he was the leader of Omaha’s powerhouse music scene. He also launched several musicians’ careers, volunteered around the community, and was well-thought of throughout his life. But even before he got to Omaha, Desdunes made waves ripple in Louisiana. This is the biography of North Omaha’s Dan Desdun…

Imagine a warm summer evening at the turn of the century. Look out on Carter Lake and see the lightning bugs flickering and listen to the cicadas roaring. Picture yourself strolling along a boardwalk wrapped along the edge of the lake, wearing fancy clothes and just basking in the natural opulence. Walking by clubs and docks with sailboats bobbing …

North Omaha is screaming full of history, and the new 24th and Lake Historic District is a tremendous example of how that’s so. After its first developments in the 1870s, this intersection evolved to become a hotbed of the African American community; as well as the heart of the Jewish community; a farm supply area; and much, much more. In 2016, 38 …

North Omaha sits on the shoulder of a city that keeps growing, but leaves this community alone. Routinely forgotten about, the community is largely neglected by investors and developers who see it as dead space. Perched uncomfortably on the precipice of downtown Omaha, the rest of this growing metro looks at North Omaha’s foibles and history mercil…

Tucked away in North Omaha is a historic neighborhood that gets little attention. However, the people who’ve lived there have vibrant memories and meaningful stories that lasted a lifetime. The Central Park neighborhood extends from North 33rd to North 48th Streets, from Ames Avenue to Sorenson Parkway. Located west of the town of Saratoga, it was …

In the 1840s, crossing the raging Missouri River was a harrowing struggle. Men, women, and children in schooners, on foot and riding horses, had to get across the water in a way they would survive that would keep all their supplies and possessions intact. It took 100 years to build a permanent structure across the water. Adam explores the bridge, t…

North Omaha has been the home to many fraternal lodges, community societies, political and social organizations and other groups. It has also been home to a lot of private clubs, nightclubs, dance halls and ballrooms. Its long history includes serving as the city’s African American cultural, religious and social hub, along with its Scandinavian roo…

With more than two dozen houses that are 130 years old, a major metro area park and a mysterious lost community hidden in a forest, the history of the Omaha View neighborhood, Adams Park and the Plum Nelly community is very tantalizing. Adam Fletcher Sasse fills us in.Help us meet expenses and keep the light on at the North Omaha History Podcast by…

An African-American minister and his wife built a congregation in North Omaha that is credited with raising the community and fighting segregation. St Phillip the Deacon Episcopal Church and it’s pastor John Albert Williams, his wife Lucinda. Adam Fletcher tells us the story of this dynamic couple.Help us meet expenses and keep the light on at the …

The intersection of North 30th and Ames Avenue was an important suburban crossroads in North Omaha as early as the 1890s and going all the way into the 1960s. Then, with white flight in full force and North Omaha divestment underway, the intersection started to struggle. Adam Fletcher Sasse fills us in.Help us meet expenses and keep the light on at…