Category: business

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20th century architecture Buildings Lost history Near North Side North 24th Street Segregation theaters Theaters Theaters

A History of the Ritz Theater in North Omaha

Ritz Theater, 2041 North 24th Street, North Omaha, Nebraska
This is the Ritz Theater in 1971, its last year of operation. It was a Black theater.

A theater opened to African Americans in a time when Omaha was deeply segregated, the Ritz Theater was an anomaly in the city. Here’s some of its history.

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20th century 21st century 24th and Lake Architects architecture Black spaces and places business civic infrastructure culture Great Plains Black History Museum historic preservation Lake Street Listed on National Register of Historic Places Near North Side Organizations Social services

A History of the Webster Telephone Exchange Building

Original North Side YMCA, 2213 Lake Street, North Omaha, Nebraska
The Webster Telephone Exchange Building at 2213 Lake Street was the home of the Urban North Side YMCA from 1945 to 1951, later becoming the Great Plains Black History Museum.

Some buildings are constructed, serve a purpose and then are demolished. Others seem to live several lifetimes by acting as a base for several enterprises and a hub for the community during different crises. Despite looking like its falling apart right now, one Lake Street building is such an institution, serving as an icon of change, sustainability and transformation in the community. This is is a history of the Webster Telephone Exchange Building.

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19th century 20th century 21st century Ames Avenue architecture Belt Line Buildings business civic infrastructure culture economics Expo grounds historic preservation History of Nebraska houses industry Intersection North 16th Street North 24th Street Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Co. Organizations Politics Saratoga wealthy White flight

A Timeline of the History of Saratoga

Suburban Theatre, North Omaha, Nebraska
In the 1910s, the Suburban Theatre was located on North 24th Street just south of Ames Avenue.

This is a timeline of the history of the Saratoga neighborhood in North Omaha, including the intersection of 24th and Ames. Included here are events, places and people central to the neighborhood’s existence as a pioneer town, leafy suburb, and a seemingly abandoned urban neighborhood.

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19th century architecture business Demolished buildings historic preservation North 24th Street Pioneer era Saratoga

A History of the Saratoga Springs Hotel in North Omaha

Grant Hotel aka Saratoga Springs Hotel, N. 24th and Grand Ave., North Omaha, Nebraska
Shown here is the Grand Hotel, originally called the Saratoga Springs Hotel and later serving as the first Brownell Hall. It was located at N. 24th and Grand Ave. in present-day Omaha.

One building defined the early history of a boom-and-bust town located in present-day North Omaha. Despite only being open for a short time, the building left a long shadow on the area. This is a history of the Saratoga Springs Hotel in the town of Saratoga, Nebraska Territory. Starting a Town Erastus Beadle came to […]

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19th century 20th century 21st century 24th and Lake African Americans business culture Jewish

A Tour of the 24th and Lake Historic District

Looking north from N. 24th and Grant, the "Edholm and Sherman" building on the right was south of the Blue Lion.

There is a LOT of history to see in North Omaha! With its uniquely diverse history of Jewish and African American culture set against a backdrop of historically distinct places, 24th and Lake Historic District is one of the jewels of Omaha’s history today. This is a tour of addresses in the district, along with […]

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biography business Florence Mormons North 30th North Omaha

A Timeline of the Life of James Comey Mitchell

James Comey Mitchell (1810-1860) Florence Nebraska
This is James Comey Mitchell (1810-1860), a founding father of Bellevue, Iowa and founder of Florence, Nebraska.

This is a timeline of the life of James C Mitchell, a founding fathers of Bellevue, IA and Florence, NT.

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20th century biography Black businesses Black businesspeople business historic preservation History of Nebraska Lost history Near North Side Segregation theaters

A Biography of George P. Johnson

Lincoln Motion Picture Company, North Omaha, Nebraska
The Lincoln Motion Picture Company produced films in L.A., but operated out of North Omaha.

The first-ever Black-owned, operated and filmed theater company in the world was led from North Omaha.