Omaha Public Library (building)

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Omaha Public Library
Omaha Public Library from N 1.JPG
Omaha Public Library in 2013
Location1823 Harney Street, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Coordinates 41°15′23″N95°56′26″W / 41.2563179836581°N 95.94063698423916°W / 41.2563179836581; -95.94063698423916
Built1891–1894
ArchitectThomas Kimball
Architectural styleSecond Renaissance Revival
NRHP reference No. 78001696 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP1978
Designated OMALOctober 17, 1978 [2]

The original Omaha Public Library building is an office building and former library located at 1823 Harney Street in Downtown Omaha, Nebraska. Designed by renowned architect Thomas Kimball, it was designed under the Second Renaissance Revival style. The building served as the main branch of the Omaha Public Library from 1894 until the completion of the W. Dale Clark Library in 1977. The building was designated an Omaha Landmark in October 1978, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places that same year.

Contents

History

The original Omaha Public Library building was built in the early 1890s and opened in 1894. The building was designed by Thomas Kimball, and was used as the main branch of the Omaha Public Library until 1977. [3] Similar to the Boston Public Library, the original Omaha Public Library building is the best early Second Renaissance Revival structure in Nebraska. Byron Reed, a pioneer real estate broker in Omaha, donated the site for the building and his collection of books, manuscripts and coins. [4]

In 1975, following years of disrepair, it was announced that the building would be replaced with the W. Dale Clark Library. [5] The library closed on February 16, 1977. [6] The W. Dale Clark Library opened in March of that same year. It was subsequently renovated as an office building called the "Omaha Library Plaza". [7] The Omaha Public Library building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. That same year, it was also listed as an Omaha Landmark. [3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Omaha Landmarks". Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Omaha Public Library (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Omaha Public Library", City of Omaha Landmark Heritage Preservation Commission. Retrieved 10/5/09.
  5. ↑ "Omaha Public Library: Completion Early '77". Omaha World-Herald. November 17, 1975. p. 36. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Library Closes On Wednesday". Omaha World-Herald. February 15, 1977. p. 24. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  7. ↑ Pollack, O. "Postcards from the Past", Nebraska Center for the Book News. Retrieved 9/5/07.
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