Memorial Park (Omaha)
Encyclopedia
Memorial Park is a park located at 6005 Underwood Avenue near the Dundee
neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska
. The park was created as a memorial for all of the men and women from Douglas County
that have served in the armed forces
.
to the Omaha World-Herald
, a group of businessmen and leaders, including Storz Brewery owner Robert H. Storz and the Omaha Zoo namesake
Henry Doorly
met to discuss a memorial. A site was chosen near Omaha University, where Happy Hollow Club and the Dundee Golf Course were located. A Memorial Park Association was created, and in 1948 it raised funds to create a monument in the park.
On June 5, 1948 President Harry S. Truman
dedicated the site. In 1959 the Omaha Rose Society added a rose garden, and in 1990 Woodmen of the World
added flagpoles and flags along the driveway coming into memorial park. A pedestrian bridge over Dodge Street
called the Memorial Park Pedestrian Bridge was completed in 1968. The park was the site of several anti-Vietnam War
protest
s by youth activists
in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
At Memorial Park, there are over 1,000 rose bushes, which make for pleasant scenery.
hosts the "Bank of the West Celebrates America" concert in the park, which always ends with a fireworks show in commemoration of the Independence Day (United States)
holiday. The concert attracts over 50,000 people each year.
In 2009, the Guess Who and Grand Funk Railroad performed.
The Bank of the West Celebrates America concert marked its 20th year in Omaha by bringing the national “United In Rock” tour of Foreigner, Styx, and Kansas to the annual free live concert and fireworks show in Memorial Park on Friday, July 2, 2010. Officials estimated attendance reached a record 80,000 attendees.
In July 2004, 311 played at Memorial Park for free in celebration of Omaha's 150th Anniversary. There were over 40,000 people there to celebrate.
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...
neighborhood of 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...
. The park was created as a memorial for all of the men and women from Douglas County
Douglas County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile . There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 per square mile...
that have served in the armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
.
History
Originally proposed by a local citizen in an editorialEditorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
to the Omaha World-Herald
Omaha World-Herald
The Omaha World-Herald, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is the primary daily newspaper of Nebraska, as well as portions of southwest Iowa. For decades it circulated daily throughout Nebraska, and in parts of Kansas, South Dakota, Missouri, Colorado and Wyoming. In 2008, distribution was reduced to the...
, a group of businessmen and leaders, including Storz Brewery owner Robert H. Storz and the Omaha Zoo namesake
Henry Doorly Zoo
The Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is a zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, located at 3701 South 10th Street.It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Its mission is conservation, research, recreation, and education.Omaha's Henry Doorly...
Henry Doorly
Henry Doorly
Henry Doorly , a native of Barbados, moved to Omaha while working as an engineer and then moved into the newspaper business. He became the chairman of the World Publishing Company and publisher of the Omaha World-Herald in Omaha, Nebraska. Doorly worked for the company for 58 years, becoming a...
met to discuss a memorial. A site was chosen near Omaha University, where Happy Hollow Club and the Dundee Golf Course were located. A Memorial Park Association was created, and in 1948 it raised funds to create a monument in the park.
On June 5, 1948 President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
dedicated the site. In 1959 the Omaha Rose Society added a rose garden, and in 1990 Woodmen of the World
Woodmen of the World
Woodmen of the World is a fraternal organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that operates a large privately held insurance company for its members....
added flagpoles and flags along the driveway coming into memorial park. A pedestrian bridge over 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....
called the Memorial Park Pedestrian Bridge was completed in 1968. The park was the site of several anti-Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
s by youth activists
Youth activism
Youth activism is when the youth voice is engaged in community organizing for social change. Around the world, young people are engaged in activism as planners, researchers, teachers, evaluators, social workers, decision-makers, advocates and leading actors in the environmental movement, social...
in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
At Memorial Park, there are over 1,000 rose bushes, which make for pleasant scenery.
Events
On the last Friday in June, Bank of the WestBank of the West
Bank of the West, is a commercial bank which sponsors the Bank of the West Classic professional tennis tournament, a U.S. Open series event.-History:Bank of the West began as Farmers National Gold Bank of San Jose, California, in 1874...
hosts the "Bank of the West Celebrates America" concert in the park, which always ends with a fireworks show in commemoration of the Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
holiday. The concert attracts over 50,000 people each year.
In 2009, the Guess Who and Grand Funk Railroad performed.
The Bank of the West Celebrates America concert marked its 20th year in Omaha by bringing the national “United In Rock” tour of Foreigner, Styx, and Kansas to the annual free live concert and fireworks show in Memorial Park on Friday, July 2, 2010. Officials estimated attendance reached a record 80,000 attendees.
In July 2004, 311 played at Memorial Park for free in celebration of Omaha's 150th Anniversary. There were over 40,000 people there to celebrate.
Directions to the Park
- From the north: Take 72nd St. south and turn left at Cass St. Cass Street turns into Underwood Avenue. Take Underwood Avenue until you reach the park. The park starts at J.E. George Blvd. and ends at N Happy Hollow Drive (approximately between 61st St. and 53rd St.)
- From the west: Take West Dodge Road (US Hwy 6) East and turn left at Cass St. Cass Street turns into Underwood Avenue. Take Underwood Avenue until you reach the park. The park starts at J.E. George Blvd. and ends at N Happy Hollow Drive (approximately between 61st St. and 53rd St.)
- From the south: Take 72nd St. north and turn right at Cass St. Cass Street turns into Underwood Avenue. Take Underwood Avenue until you reach the park. The park starts at J.E. George Blvd. and ends at N Happy Hollow Drive (approximately between 61st St. and 53rd St.)
- From the east: Take Dodge St. west to 52nd St. and turn right. Turn left on Underwood Avenue and proceed until you reach the park. The park starts at N Happy Hollow Drive and ends at J.E. George Blvd. (approximately between 53rd St. and 61st St.)