The Vennelyst was a horticultural society started in Denmark in the 1890s. Danes were one of the larger European ethnic groups in Omaha, and today Omaha has the forth largest concentration of people claiming Danish background of cities in the U.S.
In 1934, a fraternal group called the Danish Venneforening opened a 21-acre picnic spot in Florence with a massive dance floor and a crowd of 20,000 people on July 4th. A 20-acre park covered in woods, it is located in Florence at 9100 N 31st Street.
Keeping in line with its heritage, the Danish Venneforening held celebrations for Denmark’s Constitution Day, called Grunlobsdag, annually for many years. The Danish Sisterhood and the Danish Brotherhood organizations also held regular picnics at the park into the 1950s. Other organizations met at the park too, including businesses, unions, work associations, and a variety of clubs. In addition to the Danish Sisterhood and Brotherhood, some of the other Danish organizations in Omaha that met at Vennelyst Park included the Danish-American League, Danish Assembly, Danish Venneforening, Dennebrog Lodge, Dagmar Rebekah Lodge, Danish Sewing Circle, Klubben Dania, Danish Ladies’ Aid Society, and the Danish Lutheran Church. Neighborhood clubs, schools and other groups met there too.
A new clubhouse was built in 1970, and the access road led to the park from North 30th Street.
In the mid-1970s, there was a fight between the Danish Venneforening and the Nebraska State Department of Roads over the access road to the park. When the argument entered the courts, it was revealed that the Danish Venneforening planned to build a senior retirement home in the park. They ended up winning the road case, with a new entrance from North 31st Street instead of leading up from McKinley Drive.
Today, the Danish American Society of Omaha operates the park, and it is used primarily as a rental hall. Named the Danish Vennelyst Park, the grounds and the hall are kept in good condition.
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MY ARTICLES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF FLORENCE:
Public Places: Florence Ferry | Florence High School | The Mormon Tree | Florence Water Works | Mormon Bridge | Florence Boulevard | River Drive | J.J. Pershing Drive and Monument | Potter’s Field
Businesses: Vennelyst Park | Bank of Florence | Florence Mill | Florence Depot
Houses: Parker Mansion | Brandeis Country Home | Lantry-Thompson Mansion | Mitchell House
People: James M. Parker | James Comey Mitchell | Florence Kilborn
Neighborhoods: Winter Quarters | Florence Field | Wyman Heights | High Point
MY ARTICLES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PARKS IN NORTH OMAHA
PARKS: Adams Park | Miller Park | Fontenelle Park | Kountze Park aka Malcolm X Park | Hummel Park | Levi Carter Park | Jefferson Square Park
PRIVATE PARKS: Danish Vennelyst Park | Omaha Driving Park | Charles Street Bicycle Park | Omaha Rod and Gun Club | Carter Lake Club
AMUSEMENT PARKS: Kiddieland and the Pleasure Pier | Lakeview Amusement Park | Cortland Beach | Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition
RELATED: Kellom Pool | Omaha Municipal Beach | CCC Camp | Ames Avenue Bridge
North Omaha History 
I grew up in Florence, in probably one of the oldest homes built at 31st and Clay 8621 N 31st. I think the records, if accurate, date back to 1856 for the original Victorian Cottage structure. The now, living room, with front porch was added on in a very early 1900s. Of course, it has been modified over the years. For some reason, 31st is still unpaved, in 2022. Florence, has many grand old homes. Sadly Omaha seems to let the Florence area, North Omaha wither away, and doesn’t seem to celebrate or treasure the unique historic value. For a gateway entrance it looks rundown and forgotten.
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Hi Kevin, and thanks for your note. If you’re interested, I revealed the age of this house back in 2015 at https://northomahahistory.com/2015/07/19/the-oldest-houses-in-north-omaha/
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