Starting in the 1870s, the first wheat mill in Omaha was located on North 16th Street. For more than 125 years it went changes in business and technology, until it was recently closed. This episode connects the giant, familiar Mother's Best Flour mill landmark to surprising national history.

For 90 years, a huge mixed use commercial and apartment block on North 16th Street was an anchor in a busy neighborhood. This story explores who lived there, the small storefront businesses that rotated through it, and how it eventually met the wrecking ball.

In this episode, we explore Omaha Technical High School, once the largest school in the world under one roof. We’ll dive into the school’s unique “tinkerer” philosophy, which provided a vital vocational pathway for working class students, and celebrate the trailblazing graduates like Tuskegee Airman Alfonza Davis and basketball legend Bob Boozer. Adam will also share reasons why it closed.

Our thanks to our patrons:
Sheryl English
Tony Rathgeber
Bridget Maryalice
Matt Martin
Michael Wagner
Sarah Swanson
Jeff Rockwell
Barb Naughtin
Lonnie (Hansen) Dunbier
Tim Reeder
Jenna Smith
Dan Hedrick
Richard Gude
Daniel Ammons
Sara Rogers
Troy Lewellen
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Jim Collison
and
The Great Plains Black History Museum.
The North Omaha History podcast is a volunteer effort, but you can help us meet expenses by becoming a patron for as little as $1 a month. Go to https://www.patreon.com/omaha

Started in 1940, the Tomorrow World’s Club was a pioneering youth activism project. While adult civil rights organizations in Omaha were focused on politics, this youth-led groups researched and documented systemic racism across the city. Their bold campaigns laid the foundation for future civil rights victories and influenced youth for a quarter century afterwards!

Our thanks to our patrons:
Sheryl English
Tony Rathgeber
Don Goodrich
Bridget Maryalice
Matt Martin
Michael Wagner
Sarah Swanson
Jeff Rockwell
Barb Naughtin
Lonnie (Hansen) Dunbier
Tim Reeder
Jenna Smith
Dan Hedrick
Richard Gude
Daniel Ammons
Sara Rogers
Troy Lewellen
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Jim Collison
and
The Great Plains Black History Museum.
The North Omaha History podcast is a volunteer effort, but you can help us meet expenses by becoming a patron for as little as $1 a month. Go to https://www.patreon.com/omaha

Places like Abbott Drive, McKinley Street, and up and down the big streets were popular with car racers for a long time. In today’s episode Adam is going to explore the history of organizing racing in North O, including long-forgotten race tracks and more!

Our thanks to our patrons:
Sheryl English
Marlo Ibarra
Tony Rathgeber
Don Goodrich
Bridget Maryalice
Matt Martin
Michael Wagner
Sarah Swanson
Jeff Rockwell
Barb Naughtin
Lonnie (Hansen) Dunbier
Tim Reeder
Jenna Smith
Dan Hedrick
Richard Gude
Daniel Ammons
Sara Rogers
Troy Lewellen
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Jim Collison
and
The Great Plains Black History Museum.

The North Omaha History podcast is a volunteer effort, but you can help us meet expenses by becoming a patron for as little as $1 a month. Go to https://www.patreon.com/omaha

Blasting horns, banging drums and blaring singers made jazz popular in North Omaha, but did you know the community has a rich history of classical, gospel, and other forms of music? In today’s episode we’re going to talk about the people, places and events that make the history of music in the community spectacular.

Our thanks to our patrons:
Sheryl English
Marlo Ibarra
Tony Rathgeber
Don Goodrich
Bridget Maryalice
Matt Martin
Michael Wagner
Sarah Swanson
Jeff Rockwell
Barb Naughtin
Lonnie (Hansen) Dunbier
Tim Reeder
Jenna Smith
Dan Hedrick
Richard Gude
Daniel Ammons
Sara Rogers
Troy Lewellen
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Jim Collison
and
The Great Plains Black History Museum.
The North Omaha History podcast is a volunteer effort, but you can help us meet expenses by becoming a patron for as little as $1 a month. Go to https://www.patreon.com/omaha

Going on Fast Rides!—Roller coasters, cotton candy, and other summer fun were to be had at several amusement parks in the history of North Omaha! This episode gives a clear timeline to explore those places, the things that happened there, and the people who ran them.

Our thanks to our patrons:
Hailey Konnath
Sheryl English
Marlo Ibarra
Tony Rathgeber
Don Goodrich
Bridget Maryalice
Matt Martin
Michael Wagner
Sarah Swanson
Jeff Rockwell
Barb Naughtin
Lonnie (Hansen) Dunbier
Tim Reeder
Jenna Smith
Dan Hedrick
Richard Gude
Daniel Ammons
Sara Rogers
Troy Lewellen
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Jim Collison
and
The Great Plains Black History Museum.
The North Omaha History podcast is a volunteer effort, but you can help us meet expenses by becoming a patron for as little as $1 a month. Go to https://www.patreon.com/omaha

Telephones, a makeshift morgue, a community center, apartments, and the most important museum in North Omaha were all in the same building. Today, its the most public private building in the community and its in terrible condition. However, before anything worse can happen to it we’ll share the story of the Webster Telephone Exchange Building.

Our thanks to our patrons:
Sheryl English
Marlo Ibarra
Tony Rathgeber
Don Goodrich
Bridget Maryalice
Matt Martin
Michael Wagner
Sarah Swanson
Jeff Rockwell
Barb Naughtin
Lonnie (Hansen) Dunbier
Tim Reeder
Jenna Smith
Dan Hedrick
Richard Gude
Daniel Ammons
Sara Rogers
Troy Lewellen
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Jim Collison
and
The Great Plains Black History Museum.
The North Omaha History podcast is a volunteer effort, but you can help us meet expenses by becoming a patron for as little as $1 a month. Go to https://www.patreon.com/omaha

More than one hundred years ago, North Omaha was the hotbed of technological warfare. For the first time, the U.S. Army was suddenly capable of flying thousands of feet in the air for hours at a time. Soldiers and officers came from across America to learn how to fly at 30th and Fort. This is a history of the Fort Omaha Balloon School.

Our thanks to our patrons:
Sheryl English
Marlo Ibarra
Tony Rathgeber
Don Goodrich
Bridget Maryalice
Matt Martin
Michael Wagner
Sarah Swanson
Jeff Rockwell
Barb Naughtin
Lonnie (Hansen) Dunbier
Tim Reeder
Jenna Smith
Dan Hedrick
Richard Gude
Daniel Ammons
Sara Rogers
Troy Lewellen
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Jim Collison
and
The Great Plains Black History Museum.
The North Omaha History podcast is a volunteer effort, but you can help us meet expenses by becoming a patron for as little as $1 a month. Go to https://www.patreon.com/omaha

Clothes, cosmetics, furniture, hardware, appliances, houseware, sporting goods, and toys all under one roof? Today, there is one discount department store in the community, but throughout the decades there were at least a dozen department stores north of Dodge Street and east of 72nd. We’re going to explore the history of department stores on N. 24th St., Military Ave in Benson, and other places. This is a history of North Omaha’s department stores.

Our thanks to our patrons:
Sheryl English
Marlo Ibarra
Tony Rathgeber
Don Goodrich
Bridget Maryalice
Matt Martin
Michael Wagner
Sarah Swanson
Jeff Rockwell
Barb Naughtin
Lonnie (Hansen) Dunbier
Tim Reeder
Jenna Smith
Dan Hedrick
Richard Gude
Daniel Ammons
Sara Rogers
Troy Lewellen
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Jim Collison
and
The Great Plains Black History Museum.
The North Omaha History podcast is a volunteer effort, but you can help us meet expenses by becoming a patron for as little as $1 a month. Go to https://www.patreon.com/omaha

For 63 years, the little City of Florence had its own municipal leadership. In today’s episode, Adam shares the story of the mayors of Florence featuring details about the job and the people who filled the shoes as the most powerful civic leader in far North Omaha.

Our thanks to our patrons:
Marlo Ibarra
Tony Rathgeber
Don Goodrich
Bridget Maryalice
Matt Martin
Michael Wagner
Sarah Swanson
Wattle and Daub Craftsman
Jeff Rockwell
Barb Naughtin
Lonnie (Hansen) Dunbier
Tim Reeder
Jenna Smith
Dan Hedrick
Richard Gude
Daniel Ammons
Sara Rogers
Troy Lewellen
Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Jim Collison
and
The Great Plains Black History Museum.
The North Omaha History podcast is a volunteer effort, but you can help us meet expenses by becoming a patron for as little as $1 a month. Go to https://www.patreon.com/omaha