Omaha is the largest city in the US state of Nebraska. The area was visited by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804, and in the following decades several trading posts were established here. In 1846, Mormons established the temporary city of Cutler’s Park in the northern part of present-day Omaha. In 1854, Omaha was established as a city, and it was named after one of the region’s Indian tribes, whose land had been acquired by the US state from the same year.

Soon after, Omaha became the capital of the Nebraska Territory, but when the territory became a state in 1867, the capital was moved to nearby Lincoln. The city grew rapidly, and railroads were built to Omaha in the 1860s and they brought further growth. In the following several decades, Omaha’s large-scale meat production was established as the leading industry. Later, an air base was established near the city, with aircraft production for a period. In recent decades, Omaha has been significantly developed, and construction of several high-rise buildings began around year 2000.

Today you can take some nice walks in Omaha’s downtown, where there is a mix of old and new buildings. Old Omaha originated in the neighborhood east of Jackson Street and Howard Street, and it’s a great place to start a stroll. The so-called Old Market, centered around the intersection of Howard Street and 11th Street, is a popular spot with shops and restaurants in the houses along the brick-paved streets with covered sidewalks from around 1900.

Many of the houses from the 1880s and the following decades have been preserved to this day, where some, such as the old Windsor Hotel from 1885-1887, have been redeveloped with modern apartments. South of the Old Market, you can see Omaha’s historic railroad station, Union Station, which served as a station from 1931 to 1971.

The architecture was the art deco of the time, which with designed strength and masculinity suited the image of the railroads. The beautiful station was donated by the Union Pacific Railroad to the city in 1973, and today the beautiful station can be seen by visiting the Durham Museum, which has exhibits on the history of the city and region in the grand setting.

North of the Old Market district, you arrive at the large park, Gene Leahy Mall, which was conceived in the 1970s as a revitalization of Omaha’s center. You can enjoy some nice strolls in the park, which links the Missouri River and Conagra Lake in the east to the modern part of Omaha’s downtown in the west. And the city’s many high-rises stand as a contrast to the Old Market, and if you look west from the park’s fine facilities, you understand why locals call Gene Leahy Mall Central Park.

Among the modern skyscrapers, you can see the 193-meter-high office building, First National Bank Tower, which was built 1999-2002 as Omaha’s and Nebraska’s tallest building. If you continue a little west through the skyscraper district, you come to Omaha Central High, which is located on a ridge. It was here that the city’s founders met on July 4, 1854, to celebrate the establishment of Omaha.

Next to Omaha Central High is the Joslyn Art Museum, and nearby you can see Pioneer Courage Park, a monument to the settlers of the western United States who often passed through Omaha. You can take a walk along, for example, Harney Street as well, where you can see the Douglas County Courthouse, the Orpheum Theater and some beautiful Art Deco high-rises.

It is a good choice to enjoy a walk along the Missouri River too. It flows east of downtown Omaha. Here you can e.g. visit the site where the Lewis and Clark Expedition disembarked on the west bank of the river in connection with the expedition to survey the vast area of ​​land that the United States had purchased from France in 1803. There is a visitor center for The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail on the riverfront.

The expedition trail starts in Pittsburgh in the east and goes all the way across the United States to Astoria in the state of Oregon. At the visitor center there is information about the exciting expedition. Omaha’s small river marina is also located here, as are several walking and cycling paths. You can e.g. cross Missouri on the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge, which connects Omaha with Council Bluffs in Omaha, which is a pleasant city with, among other things, the interesting Union Pacific Railroad Museum.