Omaha Public Library (building)
Encyclopedia
The original Omaha Public Library building was built in 1891 at 1823 Harney Street in downtown
Omaha
, Nebraska
by renowned architect Thomas Kimball
. Designed in the Second Renaissance Revival style, the building was designated an Omaha Landmark in October 1978, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
that same year.
, 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.
Called "Old Main" for most of its usage, the library closed on February 16, 1977, with special attention to preserving the original exterior masonry wall roundels, copper roof, and interior iron staircase. In 1982 it was renovated as an office building called the "Omaha Library Plaza", for which it is still used as today.
Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...
Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
by renowned architect Thomas Kimball
Thomas Kimball
Thomas Kimball may refer to:*Thomas Lord Kimball, 19th-century Union Pacific Railroad executive and namesake of Kimball County, Nebraska*Thomas Rogers Kimball , his son, Omaha-based architect...
. Designed in the Second Renaissance Revival style, the building was designated an Omaha Landmark in October 1978, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
that same year.
About
Similar to the Boston Public LibraryBoston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to...
, the original Omaha Public Library building is the best early Second Renaissance Revival structure in Nebraska. Byron Reed
Byron Reed
Byron Reed was an American pioneer real estate businessman and local politician in Omaha, Nebraska. He founded the first real estate office in the Nebraska Territory and became the foremost agent after Nebraska achieved statehood.-Biography:Reed was born in Darien, Genesee County, New York...
, a pioneer real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
broker in Omaha, donated the site for the building and his collection of books, manuscripts and coins.
Called "Old Main" for most of its usage, the library closed on February 16, 1977, with special attention to preserving the original exterior masonry wall roundels, copper roof, and interior iron staircase. In 1982 it was renovated as an office building called the "Omaha Library Plaza", for which it is still used as today.
