This is a biography of George Smith (1826-1901) of 2202 N. 16th Street in North Omaha, Nebraska.

A Biography of Omaha’s “Doc” George Smith

The biography of Doc George Smith (1826-1901) is the story of a longtime civil servant and respected mentor among pioneer Omahans. Continue reading A Biography of Omaha’s “Doc” George Smith

North Downtown Omaha, Nebraska

History of Omaha’s North Downtown

This is a history of Omaha’s North Downtown neighborhood. Continue reading History of Omaha’s North Downtown

Anna Wilson's home at 2018 Wirt Street in North Omaha's Kountze Place neighborhood.

A History of Anna Wilson’s Mansion in North Omaha

A. D. Jones, Dr. Elizabeth Reeves, Robert Beech Howell, Anna Wilson, the Omaha Old Peoples Home Association, Crosby Funeral Home, and several others were attached to the mansion at 2018 Wirt Street in the Kountze Place neighborhood of North Omaha, Nebraska. What happened to it? Continue reading A History of Anna Wilson’s Mansion in North Omaha

A mob stands outside the Douglas County Courthouse in 1919, waiting to lynch an African American man named Will Brown for a crime he didn't commit.

A History of Mob Violence in Omaha

Mobs have terrorized Omaha since the city was founded in 1854. Defined as “the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims,” terrorism was been the weapon of Omaha’s mobs from the beginning. Early on, they were seemingly concerned with horse thieves, claim jumping and break-ins. In more recent times, mobs attacked people in Omaha because of their race and ethnicities. 50 years ago, mobs lashed out at businesses. Notably, there haven’t been any mob terror trials, monuments, or other acknowledgments of the acts of the masses in Omaha throughout its 160+ years of existence. Continue reading A History of Mob Violence in Omaha

The Execution of Cyrus Tator in North Omaha Nebraska in 1863

A History of the Execution of Cyrus Tator in North Omaha

Since before the Nebraska Territory was founded in 1854, executions including lynchings, shootings and hangings happened in Omaha. The Omaha Claim Club, established by the city’s founders, used intimidation, threats, and drownings in order to enforce their homesteading over anyone … Continue reading A History of the Execution of Cyrus Tator in North Omaha

This is a 1930s era US federal government Home Owners Loan Corporation map from the US Library of Congress. It was found by Palma Joy Strand, a professor at Creighton Law School and the Werner Institute 2040 Initiative at Creighton University.

A History of Redlining in Omaha

The history of North Omaha includes redlining starting during the 1920s, and being made illegal in the 1960s. This article explores that history, including the context in which it happened and some of the outcomes. Continue reading A History of Redlining in Omaha