Omaha

Omaha is a fresh, dynamic city, merging the best in Midwestern hospitality with the energy of a city at full throttle. There is something here for everyone, make a point to visit Omaha. Imagine walking over a swinging bridge in the largest indoor rainforest in the world, climbing on board a vintage bomber from World War II or doing a science experiment with a giant Gravitron ball. Picture yourself surrounded by an incredible arboretum and bird sanctuary, taking a cultural walk through the first Latino art and history museum in the Midwest or enjoying a romantic gondola ride. Imagine no more, visit Omaha, it’s all right here.

Omaha Arts & Entertainment: Broadway, Smithsonian, U2, three words that show the eclectic mixture Omaha offers. Qwest Center Omaha has become a key tour stop for music legends and pop stars. The Joslyn Art Museum is a Smithsonian affiliate offering an impressive range of art work including permanent exhibits from Monet, Pollock, and Chihuly. The historic Orpheum Theater provides a stage for local and Broadway productions like the Lion King, Chicago and Jesus Christ Superstar. Omaha is rich culture at every turn.

Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles (30 km) north of the mouth of the Platte River. Omaha is the anchor of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, with Council Bluffs, Iowa sitting adjacent to Omaha across the Missouri River.

Omaha’s pioneer period began in 1854 when the city was founded by speculators from neighboring Kanesville, Iowa. The city was founded along the Missouri River, and a crossing called Lone Tree Ferry earned the city its nickname, the “Gateway to the West.” During the 19th century Omaha’s central location in the United States caused the city to become an important national transportation hub. Throughout the rest of the 19th century the transportation and jobbing sectors were important in the city, along with its railroads and breweries. In the 20th century the Omaha Stockyards and meatpacking plants gained local and national prominence.

The city is the home to five Fortune 500 companies: ConAgra Foods, Union Pacific Corporation, Peter Kiewit and Sons, Inc., Mutual of Omaha Companies, and Berkshire Hathaway, the company headed by legendary investor and so-called Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, the richest person in the world according to Forbes Magazine in 2008. The Gallup Organization, TD Ameritrade, PayPal and LinkedIn all have major operations or headquarters in Omaha. The city also is the home to three of the top 30 architectural and engineering firms in the world: Leo A. Daly Co., HDR, Inc. and DLR Group.

Today the economy of Omaha is diverse and built on skilled knowledge jobs. In 2001 Newsweek identified Omaha as one of the Top 10 high-tech havens in the nation. Six national fiber optic networks converge in Omaha. Tourism in Omaha benefits the city’s economy greatly, with the annual College World Series providing important revenue and the city’s Henry Doorly Zoo serving as the top attraction in Nebraska.

The historic preservation movement in the city has led to a number of historic structures and districts being designated Omaha Landmarks or listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city has a number of ethnic groups represented in its population. Race relations in the city have included a number of riots, lynchings, and recently, gang violence.

The diverse culture of Omaha includes a variety of performance venues, museums, and musical heritage, including the historically-significant jazz scene in North Omaha and the modern and influential “Omaha Sound.” Sports have been important in Omaha for more than a century, and the city currently hosts four professional sports teams. Omaha also has a number of recreational trails and parks located throughout the city.