Last updated: September 1, 2022
Place
Nicholas Street Historic District
David Calease, NPS
Quick Facts
Location:
Bounded by North 11th Street, Izard Street, North 14th Street and the buildings north of Nicholas Street
Significance:
Community Planning & Development; Industry
Designation:
National Register of Historic Places
MANAGED BY:
Private Property Owners
At the dawn of the twentieth century, Omaha grew quickly as a large jobbing, meatpacking, and transportation center. Its location along the Missouri River and as the eastern end of the transcontinental railroad gave it an advantage over other communities trying to connect goods and people from the East to those in the newly settled West. As the railroads developed, lines spread from Omaha in all directions, connecting the city to Sioux City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Denver.
Located at the northern edge of the original plat of Omaha, the Nicholas Street Historic District is a compact area of seventeen buildings that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Originally along the northern curve of the railroad as it looped around downtown Omaha, pioneering settlers bought and developed the Nicholas Street lots. The growing railroads added lines which crisscrossed the area, cutting off the Nicholas Street buildings from neighboring development, creating an island of commercial warehouses and factories. Buildings within the district generally fall into four types – specialty stores, public works buildings, warehouses and manufacturing buildings – with the 1893 Orchard & Wilhelm warehouse surviving as the oldest building in the district.
Several properties within the district have been rehabilitated and now contain office, commercial, or residential spaces. Please respect private properties while enjoying the district’s public spaces.
Located at the northern edge of the original plat of Omaha, the Nicholas Street Historic District is a compact area of seventeen buildings that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Originally along the northern curve of the railroad as it looped around downtown Omaha, pioneering settlers bought and developed the Nicholas Street lots. The growing railroads added lines which crisscrossed the area, cutting off the Nicholas Street buildings from neighboring development, creating an island of commercial warehouses and factories. Buildings within the district generally fall into four types – specialty stores, public works buildings, warehouses and manufacturing buildings – with the 1893 Orchard & Wilhelm warehouse surviving as the oldest building in the district.
Several properties within the district have been rehabilitated and now contain office, commercial, or residential spaces. Please respect private properties while enjoying the district’s public spaces.