Welcome to Downtown Omaha

Downtown Omaha is the foundation and the heart of the city, getting its start in 1854. Bounded roughly by the Missouri River and 27th Street on the east and west and Nicholas and Leavenworth streets on the north and south, downtown Omaha is a popular destination for residents from throughout the region as well as out-of-state travelers. The town’s name reflects one of its many American Indian ancestors who once lived in the area: the Omaha tribe, which dubbed it Umⁿ hoⁿ, meaning Dwellers on the Bluff.

Omaha was visited by Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery Expedition in 1804, and because of its location near the confluence of the Missouri and Platte rivers, it has always been known as an important hub for the transportation of people and products. President Abraham Lincoln stood on the precipice above Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1863 and named it the eastern terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad, but to avoid building a railroad bridge headed westward over the Missouri at that time, the route’s actual start was on the west side of the river, in Omaha.

Well Known For:

Downtown Omaha, consequently, is still the headquarters of the proud builder of the railroad’s eastern half—Union Pacific. It’s also home to more Fortune 500 companies, such as global engineering and construction firm Kiewit Corp., insurance company Mutual of Omaha and Berkshire Hathaway, founded by resident CEO Warren Buffett, aka the Oracle of Omaha. It also boasts myriad state businesses, as well as Creighton University. The Gallup Organization’s Riverfront Campus and the National Park Service’s Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters lie just a few blocks northeast.

The Old Market, located downtown, is one of the state’s top tourist destinations and not only is the district itself on the National Historic Register, more than 30 structures are recognized, too. In addition to many office and apartment buildings, the list includes Central High School (on the former Territorial Capitol’s site), Douglas County Courthouse, Trinity Cathedral, the former Union Pacific Station (now home to the Durham Museum) and its adjacent neighbor Burlington Station (now owned and renovated by KETV).

Area Highlights:

The city’s premiere cultural sites, such as the Joslyn Art Museum, Jun Kaneko Center, the Orpheum Theater, the Holland Performing Arts Center (where the Omaha Symphony performs), The Rose Theater (for children) and Hot Shops Art Center, an eclectic grouping of regional artists with working studios, reside downtown. And some of the state’s most-heralded bars, coffee shops and restaurant offerings are also located here.

A few of the city’s most popular outdoor sites lie in this area, such as Lewis and Clark Landing, a 23-acre public park with walking trails; Heartland of America Park and Fountain, reopening in 2023 following major renovations; and Gene Leahy Mall, an urban park reopening in 2021, also following a major update. The Omaha Farmers’ Market, held Saturdays and Sundays from May to early October, is a popular event. And the s-shaped, suspension-styled Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge, aka The Bob, running across the Missouri between Nebraska and Iowa, is the newest iconic landmark.

And who could forget TD Ameritrade Park—now host to the annual College World Series, held in Omaha since 1950—and CHI Health Center Omaha, principal site for major concert tours and conventions, as well as many U.S. Olympic team trials over the years.

New options for downtown Omaha living spring up so frequently, it’s hard to keep up with the offerings. Numerous previous warehouses, hotels and office buildings have been renovated into stylish apartment, condo and loft developments, most targeting more-affluent renters and homebuyers. But not to worry, more-affordable historical neighborhoods lie around the fringes of downtown (see the Omaha Living Blog section). Find your new home among downtown developments such as jLofts on the Market, Riverfront Place, Kimball Lofts, Riverfront Place Tower II, Rows at SoMa, The Paxton, and Midtown Crossing