Timeline of North Omaha, Nebraska history

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Significant events in the history of North Omaha, Nebraska include the Pawnee, Otoe and Sioux nations; the African American community; Irish, Czech, and other European immigrants, and; several other populations. Several important settlements and towns were built in the area, as well as important social events that shaped the future of Omaha and the history of the nation. The timeline of North Omaha history extends to present, including recent controversy over schools.

Contents 1 Historical timeline 1.1 Pre-1850 1.2 1851-1900 1.3 1901-1950 1.4 1951-2000 1.5 2000-Present 2 See also 3 References

[edit] Historical timeline

[edit] Pre-1850

• Pre-1800s: Bands from the Pawnee, Otoe and Sioux nations alternatively occupy the land now comprising North Omaha as hunting area
• Early 1800s: Omaha nation uses the land now comprising North Omaha as hunting area
• 1804: Between August 3 and August 20, the Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled along the banks of the Missouri and camped in North Omaha. There is speculation that Clark traveled in the area, possibly to the Belvedere Point Lookout.^[1]
• 1812: Manuel Lisa builds Fort Lisa north of Omaha and helps sway local tribes to support the US in the War of 1812.
• 1824: Cabanne's Trading Post established in far North Omaha for the American Fur Company owned by John Jacob Astor.
• 1846: Winter Quarters established in present-day Florence as a hold-over of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on their way from Nauvoo to Utah. 359 die and are buried in what is now called the Mormon Pioneer Cemetery. This area was the first city in the Nebraska Territory, called Culter's Park by its 2500 residents. Although it only existed for two years, the city had a mayor and city council, 24 policemen and fireguards, various administrative committees, and a town square for public meetings.^[2]

[edit] 1851-1900

• 1855: Florence makes a bid to become the Nebraska State Capitol, but loses to Omaha.^[3]
• 1856: The town of Saratoga is born, thrives, and falls within a year within today's North Omaha.
• 1868: Nebraska's first high school graduates come from Brownell Hall in North Omaha.
• 1878: Fort Omaha built by the US government in what was to become North Omaha.
• 1879: General Crook House completed at Fort Omaha.
• 1883: Buffalo Bill founds the Wild West, Rocky Mountain and Prairie Exhibition in North Omaha.
• 1898: The Trans-Mississippi Exposition was held in north Omaha from June 1 to October 31, 1898. Its ornate grounds were created to highlight the economic, cultural and artistic achievements of the individuals who lived in the Midwest. All of the buildings, which housed over 5000 exhibits, were built as temporary structures.^[4] Today there is a monument in North Omaha's Kountze Park, the former site of the exposition.
• 1891: George Smith lynched in North Omaha for "leering at a white woman."
• 1892: Dr. Matthew Ricketts, a physician in North Omaha, is the first African American man elected to the Nebraska State Legislature.^[5]
• 1899: The Greater America Exposition held on the same site with many of the same features at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition.

[edit] 1901-1950

• 1912: Local chapter of NAACP founded.
• 1913: Easter Sunday tornado kills dozens and destroys countless blocks of North Omaha.
• 1915: The Lincoln Motion Picture Company was founded in North Omaha to produce black films.^[6]
• 1917: Florence is annexed by the City of Omaha.^[7]
• 1919: Rioters lynch Will Brown and pillage North Omaha during the Omaha Race Riot of 1919.
• 1920s: First wave of white flight from near North Omaha following the riots. Whites leave the area en masse from Cuming north to Kountze. Earl Little founded Omaha chapter of UNIA.
• 1925: Malcom X born in North Omaha.
• 1928: Omaha chapter of the Urban League is formed.
• 1938: The Omaha Star, the only African American newspaper in Nebraska, is founded at 2216 North 24th Street.
• 1947: DePorres Club starts campaign for nonviolent social change against racial discrimination in North Omaha.

[edit] 1951-2000

• 1958: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visits North Omaha.
• 1960s: Second wave of white flight from further North Omaha as whites begin to leave the area en masse from Kountze to Miller Park^{[citation needed]}.
• 1966 On July 5 the National Guard is called to quell two days of rioting among African Americans in North Omaha.^[8]
• 1968 Riots erupt in North Omaha in response to assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..
• 1968: Robert Kennedy visits Omaha in his quest to become president.
• 1969 Riots erupt on June 24 after an Omaha police officer fatally shoots teenager Vivian Strong in the Logan Fontenelle housing projects. ^[9]
• 1970: On August 17 a bombing occurs at a house at 2867 Ohio Street, killing one policeman. Black Panther members are implicated, leading to the Rice/Poindexter Case.
• 1970s: The North Omaha Freeway is constructed, thereby splitting North Omaha in half with severe negative impacts on the community.
• 1990s: Third wave of "white flight" from far North Omaha as whites move en masse from Redick north to Craig^{[citation needed]}, the informal dividing line between North Omaha and Florence.

[edit] 2000-Present

• 2006: Senator Ernie Chambers forwards a bill through the Nebraska State Legislature to divide Omaha Public Schools along racial lines.

[edit] See also

• North Omaha, Nebraska
• History of North Omaha, Nebraska
• Landmarks in North Omaha, Nebraska
• Timeline of Racial Tension in Omaha, Nebraska

[edit] References

1. ^ Description and location of Belvedere Point Lookout
2. ^ (n.d.) Historic Florence - Culter's Park Marker
3. ^ Reeves, R. (n.d.) Douglas County History University of Nebraska.
4. ^ (n.d.) "When the World Came to Omaha."
5. ^ (n.d.) Vignette: Matthew Ricketts University of Washington.
6. ^ (2007) African American History in the American West: Timeline. University of Washington.
7. ^ Reeves, R. (n.d.) Douglas County History University of Nebraska.
8. ^ (n.d.) National Guard Mobilized in North Omaha. Black Facts Online.
9. ^ (n.d.) Distilled in Black and White Omaha Reader.