Portal:History

This is the history portal. It is the entry point for information on people, places, and events from Omaha's past.

The Joslyn Castle, located at Located at 3902 Davenport St., was originally built in 1903 for businessman George Joslyn and his wife Sarah Joslyn as their home. It took just eleven months to build the home, costing the couple $250,000 at that time. Designed by Omaha architect John A. MacDonald, this 35-room mansion is four stories tall and spans over five acres of gardens and landscaping. In 1944 the Castle became the headquarters of the Omaha Public School system but in 1989 the school system decided to move to a larger facility. After that, the Castle became property of the State of Nebraska. In 1990 the house received extensive restoration. The Castle now is open to visitors for touring every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. It is also available for private touring and events. The Joslyn Castle is one of Omaha's premier venues for social and business gatherings. Combining "old world charm" with all the conveniences of modern amenities, the castle provides a superb setting for weddings, receptions, business meetings and conferences. Exotic wood interiors, Italian marble fireplaces and stain glass windows provide the perfect complement for that special event. The Joslyn Castle was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and was designated as an Omaha Landmark Historic Structure in 1979.

• The Florence neighborhood is the oldest community in the entire state of Nebraska.

• 3 historical trails (Mormon Trail, Oregon Trail, Lewis and Clark) passed through Omaha.

• Malcolm X, one of the most prominent black nationalist leaders in the United States, was born in Omaha.

• The Henry Doorly Zoo has the largest indoor rainforest in the world.

• The world's largest coffee pot resides in Omaha.

• Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is Nebraska's oldest church building still in use.

• The original building of the Joslyn Art Museum is one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the nation, with 38 marbles from seven countries.

• The first Nebraska State Constitution was signed at the site of Central High School when it was the Nebraska Territorial Capital Building.

• The St. Mary Magdalene Church had to be constructed three different times so far.

• The Douglas County Courthouse serves as both, the courthouse and the county jail.

• More than 600 Mormons died at the Winter Quarters in 1846 due to harsh weather, and were buried nearby in a site that was named the Mormon Pioneer Cemetery.

• The Orpheum Theater stage hosted the likes of W.C. Fields, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Al Jolson.

• In 2001,the Great Plains Black History Museum was forced to close for lack of funding and poor maintenance of the building, and is in need of a sponsor to bring it back to life.

• Actor Spencer Tracy played Father Edward J. Flanagan, founder of the original Boys Town, now Girl's and Boy's Town, in the movie "Boys Town."

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