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Lincoln Highway (Omaha)
Encyclopedia
The Lincoln Highway
in Omaha, Nebraska
runs east–west from near North 183rd Street and West Dodge Road in towards North 192nd Street outside of Elkhorn
. This section of the Lincoln Highway
, one of only twenty miles that were paved with brick
in Nebraska
, is one of the most well-preserved in the country. The roadway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984. The Lincoln Highway
was the first road across the United States of America, traversing coast-to-coast from Times Square
in New York City
to Lincoln Park
in San Francisco, California
.
The original Lincoln Highway was built from Omaha to Elkhorn in 1913. The Lincoln Highway crossed the Missouri River
into Omaha on the old Douglas Street Bridge and traveled west on Dodge Street
, from which point it began meandering across the state following section
lines. However, after the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge was built at Blair
in 1929, the following year Lincoln Highway was rerouted for the last time onto U.S. 30 through Blair. Soon after the rerouting was completed, local officials from Blair came to Omaha and dug up the Lincoln Highway markers that lined the road, only to re-insert them in their town. This infuriated Omahans and incited a long-standing resentment against Blair.
The elimination of the Omaha section managed to preserve the roadway from too much usage, effectively securing its usage and appreciation today.
, important buildings on the Lincoln Highway in Omaha included the Nash Block
at 902-912 Farnam and 901-911 Douglas streets, as well as the Blackstone Hotel
at Farnam Street and 36th Street. Additionally, the Rose Blumkin Performance Arts Center at 20th and Farnam Street and the Farnam Street Automobile Row, from 30th to 40th Streets were both important landmarks.
There were several other attractions on the Lincoln Highway in Omaha. They included Jobber's Canyon, a warehousing district in the downtown area that once outfitted
the Old West, and Peony Park
, an amusement park that was home to Lawrence Welk
's orchestra in the 1930s. Other important landmarks along the highway included the Guy Barton Mansion, built in 1892 and demolished in 1982; the Hupmobile dealership at 25th and Farnam, which is the last preserved Hupmobile dealership in the United States, and; John Sutter's Mill, built in 1875 and the intersection of Saddle Creek Road and Dodge Street
, immediately east of the Saddle Creek Underpass
, was a landmark during the entire life of the Highway, and predated the incorporation of the neighboring towns of Dundee
and Benson
.
to maintain and preserve the roadway. In the 1980s preservationists pushed for the highway to be restored after plans were revealed that covered the road with asphalt
. The section was eventually restored with original bricks that were laid in 1920. To protect the brickwork, vehicles weighing 6 tons or more are now banned from the highway.
, and there is a reconstructed pony truss bridge over the West Papillion Creek. There are seven historical markers lining the roadway, including a monument was erected by the Elkhorn Lincoln Highway Diamond Jubilee Committee in 1987. It includes an historic plaque and two replica 1928 Lincoln Highway markers.
The city of Omaha proposed an approximately $633,000 plan to enhance the roadway with a 0.75 miles (1.2 km) paved trail to the south of the highway and informational kiosks. This would be the farthest west trail in Omaha
, although it would not connect with any other trails in the city. The Omaha government has already acquired the land needed for the trail.
at Dodge Street and following it westward, past when it becomes West Dodge Road. Two and a half miles west of Boys Town
the route turns right at the Lincoln Highway sign at North 183 Street. The following section of the highway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2003.
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
runs east–west from near North 183rd Street and West Dodge Road in towards North 192nd Street outside of Elkhorn
Elkhorn, Nebraska
Elkhorn was a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States and is a present-day neighborhood on the western edge of Omaha. The population was 6,062 at the 2000 census and was estimated by the Census Bureau at 8,192 in 2005...
. This section of the Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
, one of only twenty miles that were paved with brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, is one of the most well-preserved in the country. The roadway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984. The Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
was the first road across the United States of America, traversing coast-to-coast from Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park (San Francisco)
Lincoln Park in San Francisco, California, was dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln in 1909 and includes about of the northwestern corner of the San Francisco Peninsula....
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
History
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
into Omaha on the old Douglas Street Bridge and traveled west on Dodge Street
Dodge Street
Dodge Street is the main east–west street in Omaha, Nebraska. Numbered as U.S. Route 6, the street starts in Downtown Omaha and connects to West Dodge Road around 78th Street. From there it continues westward through the remainder of Douglas County....
, from which point it began meandering across the state following section
Section (United States land surveying)
In U.S. land surveying under the Public Land Survey System , a section is an area nominally one square mile, containing , with 36 sections making up one survey township on a rectangular grid....
lines. However, after the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge was built at Blair
Blair, Nebraska
Blair is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,990 at the 2000 census. Blair is a part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
in 1929, the following year Lincoln Highway was rerouted for the last time onto U.S. 30 through Blair. Soon after the rerouting was completed, local officials from Blair came to Omaha and dug up the Lincoln Highway markers that lined the road, only to re-insert them in their town. This infuriated Omahans and incited a long-standing resentment against Blair.
The elimination of the Omaha section managed to preserve the roadway from too much usage, effectively securing its usage and appreciation today.
Landmarks
According to the National Park ServiceNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, important buildings on the Lincoln Highway in Omaha included the Nash Block
Nash Block
The Nash Block, also known as the McKesson-Robbins Warehouse and currently as The Greenhouse, is located at 902-912 Farnam Street in Omaha, Nebraska. Designed by Thomas R. Kimball and built in 1907, the building is the last remnant of Downtown Omaha's Jobbers Canyon...
at 902-912 Farnam and 901-911 Douglas streets, as well as the Blackstone Hotel
Blackstone Hotel (Omaha)
The Blackstone Hotel, currently known as the Blackstone Center, is located at 302 South 36th Street in the Blackstone neighborhood of the Midtown area in Omaha, Nebraska...
at Farnam Street and 36th Street. Additionally, the Rose Blumkin Performance Arts Center at 20th and Farnam Street and the Farnam Street Automobile Row, from 30th to 40th Streets were both important landmarks.
There were several other attractions on the Lincoln Highway in Omaha. They included Jobber's Canyon, a warehousing district in the downtown area that once outfitted
Outfitter
An outfitter is a shop or person that sells men's clothes . More specifically, it is a company or individual who provides or deals in equipment and supplies for the pursuit of certain activities. The term is most closely associated with outdoor activities such as rafting, hunting, fishing,...
the Old West, and Peony Park
Peony Park
Peony Park was an amusement park located at North 78th and Cass Streets in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1919, over the next seventy-five years the park included a pool, beach and waterslide, a ballroom that billed itself as "1 acre under one roof," an open air dance area for 3000 dancers,...
, an amusement park that was home to Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
's orchestra in the 1930s. Other important landmarks along the highway included the Guy Barton Mansion, built in 1892 and demolished in 1982; the Hupmobile dealership at 25th and Farnam, which is the last preserved Hupmobile dealership in the United States, and; John Sutter's Mill, built in 1875 and the intersection of Saddle Creek Road and Dodge Street
Dodge Street
Dodge Street is the main east–west street in Omaha, Nebraska. Numbered as U.S. Route 6, the street starts in Downtown Omaha and connects to West Dodge Road around 78th Street. From there it continues westward through the remainder of Douglas County....
, immediately east of the Saddle Creek Underpass
Saddle Creek Underpass
The Saddle Creek Underpass is located in the Midtown area of Omaha, Nebraska. Built to accommodate Dodge Street traversing over Saddle Creek Road, the underpass was constructed in 1934 by the Works Progress Administration...
, was a landmark during the entire life of the Highway, and predated the incorporation of the neighboring towns of Dundee
Dundee, Nebraska
The Dundee-Happy Hollow Historic District is located west of Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. It covers the area between Leavenworth Street on the south, Hamilton Street on the north, Happy Hollow Boulevard on the west, and 46th Street on the east. The "heart" of Dundee is located at 50th and Underwood...
and Benson
Benson, Nebraska
Benson is a historic neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska. Now a pocket within North Omaha, Benson Place was originally platted in 1887 and was annexed into the City of Omaha in 1917.-History:...
.
Preservation
In 1975 the Douglas County Board of Commissioners passed a resolutionto maintain and preserve the roadway. In the 1980s preservationists pushed for the highway to be restored after plans were revealed that covered the road with asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
. The section was eventually restored with original bricks that were laid in 1920. To protect the brickwork, vehicles weighing 6 tons or more are now banned from the highway.
Development
The highway is currently marked by an interpretive pull-off maintained by the Omaha Public Power DistrictOmaha Public Power District
Omaha Public Power District, or OPPD, is a public electric utility in the State of Nebraska. It is one of the largest publicly owned electric utilities in the United States, serving more than 340,000 customers in 13 southeast Nebraska counties. OPPD was formed in 1946 as a political subdivision of...
, and there is a reconstructed pony truss bridge over the West Papillion Creek. There are seven historical markers lining the roadway, including a monument was erected by the Elkhorn Lincoln Highway Diamond Jubilee Committee in 1987. It includes an historic plaque and two replica 1928 Lincoln Highway markers.
The city of Omaha proposed an approximately $633,000 plan to enhance the roadway with a 0.75 miles (1.2 km) paved trail to the south of the highway and informational kiosks. This would be the farthest west trail in Omaha
Trails in Omaha
Trails in Omaha, Nebraska include of paved trails as well as unpaved trails and paths for recreational usage throughout the city. Popular among bicyclists, runners, hikers and recreational walkers, these trails are included in comprehensive plans for the city of Omaha, the Omaha metro area,...
, although it would not connect with any other trails in the city. The Omaha government has already acquired the land needed for the trail.
Directions
According to the Lincoln Highway Association, the Lincoln Highway in Omaha can still be followed through the city. The route begins by exiting I-480Interstate 480 (Iowa-Nebraska)
Interstate 480 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway, a mere long, that connects Interstate 80 in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, with Interstate 29 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The portion of I-480 in Nebraska has been named the Gerald R. Ford Freeway, named in honor of the former President, who was a...
at Dodge Street and following it westward, past when it becomes West Dodge Road. Two and a half miles west of Boys Town
Boys Town
Boys Town or Boystown may refer to:*Boys Town , an organization dedicated to the housing and education of at-risk children, founded by Father Edward J...
the route turns right at the Lincoln Highway sign at North 183 Street. The following section of the highway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2003.
External links
- (1928) Lincoln Highway Souvenir Guide Through Iowa and Nebraska.
- Historic map of Lincoln Highway in Eastern Nebraska.
- Historic postcard of the Lincoln Highway "Welcome" sign in downtown Omaha.
Related reading
- Koster, G. (1986) A Story of Highway Development in Nebraska. Lincoln, NE: Department of Roads. p. 15.
- Omaha World-Herald (1988) "The Lincoln Highway United the States," Magazine of the Midlands. December 25, 1988.