Omaha By Design: Omaha, Only Better

January 11, 2012

treasure trove

by Ken Mayer

The pickers call it a honey hole, a place where all manner of good things can be found.  During a holiday gathering at the Durham Museum, I was chatting with a staff member about their collection of photographs and discovered that one of Omaha’s honey holes has just gotten even sweeter.

I was thrilled to learn they have begun the process of digitizing the collection, and many of the images have recently been posted online at http://www.durhammuseum.org/experience/photo-archive.aspx.

I thought it would be fun to have a look back at how we have used public spaces in Omaha through the lenses of some of our city’s finest shutterbugs (click on the photos to enlarge).

Should you care to purchase a print of any of these or thousands of other Omaha images, I’ve included the accession numbers. The images are available from the Durham for a small fee.

Numbers that begin with “BF” are from the Bostwick-Frohardt Collection, owned by KM3TV, The Durham Museum.  “RP” indicates the shot is from the Robert Paskach Collection, copyright Omaha World-Herald, The Durham Museum.

photo 1
A long-standing rite of spring. Adelaide Fogg Dancing School four charmers in the park, May 1926. (BF1713-007)

photo 2
Brave bicyclists out for a ride. Omaha Wheel Club in Fairmont Park around 1888. (BF14-289A)

photo 3
Curling? In Omaha? Who knew? Curling at Miller Park on the day after Christmas, 1926. (BF7-803)

photo 4
A time when one dressed for a day in the park. Ladies in Hanscom Park around 1911. (BF3-365)

photo 5
Before the Holiday Lights Festival. Aksarben Parade Electric Parade in late September 1954. (RP-486-06)

photo 6
Look, Ma – no YouTube! Dog rides toboggan down Elmwood Park Hill. (RP-321-01)

photo 7
Pet parade. Super Duper Market, North 30th Street. (RP-109-03)

photo 8
Swingin’ in the park with the Nat Towles Band, August 1939. Dance band, Krug Park Pavilion, now the site of Gallagher Park. (BF5645-004)