[geomorph]

My photo threads highlight urban areas I have visited, featuring what I found to be the most notable landscape architecture and urban design and architecture projects that I experienced, especially modern design. As such, these highlight collections are probably a good primer for anyone with the same interests who is planning on visiting this city. I avoid posting poorly composed shots, redundant series of images, construction progress updates, and pictures of gritty decay and weird urban character studies. That way, viewers do not need to trudge through a quagmire in need of an editor. All killer, no filler!

Omaha highlights photographed in June 2009:

Durham Museum:
On the edge of downtown, the former Omaha Union Station has been beautifully restored and houses a museum dedicated to the city's history.

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7761/omaha01.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha01.jpg/)

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5247/omaha02.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/omaha02.jpg/)

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4997/omaha03.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/i/omaha03.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/5883/omaha04.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/omaha04.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/9095/omaha05.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/omaha05.jpg/)

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/951/omaha06.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/omaha06.jpg/)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5627/omaha07.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/omaha07.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3958/omaha08.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha08.jpg/)

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/7072/omaha09.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/omaha09.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/304/omaha10.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha10.jpg/)

Union Pacific and First National Bank towers:
These are two of the most attractive highrises in the small downtown area, the First National Bank is the tallest in Nebraska at 634 feet and features an atrium lobby.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3940/omaha31.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/omaha31.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7682/omaha32.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/omaha32.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3766/omaha49.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/omaha49.jpg/)

Pioneer Courage Park:
This park features a series of bronze sculptures which depict the city's history as a route for early pioneers, set in a stylized natural landscape. A second set of sculptures depicts a herd of bison running along a sidewalk that links the park to a plaza in front of the First National Bank. That plaza contains a third set of sculptures of a flock of geese in flight, some of which are cast in a polished metal and hanging in the atrium lobby of the bank...a great progression through a part of downtown.

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/4727/omaha35.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/omaha35.jpg/)

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4228/omaha36.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/i/omaha36.jpg/)

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9039/omaha37.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/omaha37.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/336/omaha38.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/omaha38.jpg/)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5733/omaha39.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/omaha39.jpg/)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8315/omaha40.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/omaha40.jpg/)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/1952/omaha41.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/omaha41.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6297/omaha42.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/omaha42.jpg/)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8323/omaha43.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/omaha43.jpg/)

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/9189/omaha44.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/i/omaha44.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2376/omaha45.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/omaha45.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8169/omaha46.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha46.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6531/omaha47.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha47.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8652/omaha48.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha48.jpg/)

A few new buildings near Pioneer Courage Park:

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/263/omaha34.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/omaha34.jpg/)

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6642/omaha33.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/omaha33.jpg/)

Gene Leahy Mall and Heartland of America Park:
This connected series of parks starts in downtown with the mall, a several-blocks long one-block wide space featuring a water course whose character changes block to block and is bridged by several cross streets. It finally tumbles down a series of cascades to the park, which features a lake ringed with walking paths and shelters, and a large fountain. This park is located along the Missouri River.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9963/omaha30.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/omaha30.jpg/)

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5046/omaha29.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/omaha29.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9382/omaha28.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/omaha28.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3174/omaha27.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha27.jpg/)

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6140/omaha26.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/omaha26.jpg/)

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7467/omaha23.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/i/omaha23.jpg/)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/1139/omaha24.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/omaha24.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9991/omaha25.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/omaha25.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8268/omaha22.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha22.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9449/omaha21.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/omaha21.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5637/omaha20.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha20.jpg/)

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/1397/omaha19.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/omaha19.jpg/)

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6049/omaha18.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/omaha18.jpg/)

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8772/omaha17.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/i/omaha17.jpg/)

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5051/omaha16.jpg (http://img89.imageshack.us/i/omaha16.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/218/omaha15.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha15.jpg/)

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2784/omaha14.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/omaha14.jpg/)

Qwest Center:
This large sports arena is on the edge of downtown near the Missouri River.

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/1822/omaha50.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/omaha50.jpg/)

Missouri Riverfront:
A pleasant walking trail runs along this small urban riverfront, with a plaza featuring a sculpted monument to local union labor, the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge crossing the river to Council Bluffs Iowa, several new residential complexes, a playground and fountain, and the National Park headquarters for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/9397/omaha51.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/omaha51.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4323/omaha52.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha52.jpg/)

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7161/omaha53.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/i/omaha53.jpg/)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2446/omaha54.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/omaha54.jpg/)

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6191/omaha55.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/i/omaha55.jpg/)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5206/omaha56.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/omaha56.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4849/omaha57.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/omaha57.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2637/omaha58.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/omaha58.jpg/)

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/2889/omaha59.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/omaha59.jpg/)

Enjoy! You can also see my threads 'Tacoma - Highlights', 'Portland - Highlights', 'Seattle - Highlights', 'Denver - Highlights', 'Philadelphia - Highlights', 'Boston - Highlights', 'Palm Beach - Highlights', 'Saint Augustine - Highlights', 'Dallas - Highlights', 'Fort Worth - Highlights', 'Tampa - Highlights', 'Baltimore - Highlights', 'Washington DC - Highlights', 'Toronto - Highlights', 'Montreal - Highlights', 'Ottawa - Highlights', 'Quebec - Highlights', 'Honolulu - Highlights', 'Miami - Highlights', 'Las Vegas - Highlights', 'New York City - Highlights', 'Canberra - Highlights', 'Sydney - Highlights', 'Cincinnati - Highlights', 'Indianapolis - Highlights', Saint Louis - Highlights', 'Kansas City - Highlights', and 'Atlanta - Highlights'.

[vid]

Some of us like the urban decay photos. But Omaha Union Station is cool, too.

[skyline]

Very impressive!

[ShadowMaster]

Nice. I always was curious about Omaha, good job with the pictures. If only we get to see a little more of this city here on SSP. ;)

[geomorph]

Thank you for the compliments, I enjoyed my day there wandering!

[TonyAnderson]

Possibly the most underrated city in America?

[Okstate]

They certainly like being imaginative with their public spaces. More cities should be like this.

[stepper77]

Great job! Omaha looks quite attractive. Thanks!

[Echoes]

When I was younger my dad and I were passing through Omaha on a road trip. At the time I was convinced that the First National Bank Tower, being the tallest in the city, MUST be Warren Buffett's tower and his office MUST be on the top floor. I figured a guy that rich must have a tower to himself. :haha:

Omaha is looking good!

[everskim]

Very clean and attractive! But where are all the people to enjoy it?

[KevinFromTexas]

Nice. That's a hefty amount of public space.

[Leo the Dog]

I had no idea Omaha had stuff like this. Interesting water features.

[geomorph]

everskim, there were not very many people walking around these spaces, I'm not sure this is a very lively downtown. Admittedly, I tend to compose pictures without people in the foreground!

[geomorph]

Looking back on my photos, I find it really funny that there are more bronze statues of people than actual people in my photos!

[Roaming]

Beautiful photos of Omaha. :)

[urbino]

Thank you.

Very interesting urban art

[geomorph]

The new public plazas and art really fit the location...they don't feel like someone's idea of imported modern culture.

[Jularc]

Yeah some interesting outdoor arts and plazas for sure.

[brad_in_Omaha]

Nice Photos geomorph!

Nice. I always was curious about Omaha, good job with the pictures. If only we get to see a little more of this city here on SSP. ;)

I added a few new photos in this thread about Omaha:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=168202

[geomorph]

brad, thank you for the pictures, especially the pedestrian bridge at night!

[IMBY]

I love outdoor sculptures, and that's enough for me to want to visit this city! Lots of it! And the river!:banana:

[volguus zildrohar]

Looks pretty good - that water course is amazing. However there may such a thing as an oversaturation of statuary. Get some humans, Omaha. :)

[mr1138]

I must say Omaha is definitely improving in terms of bringing in humans. When I lived in Lincoln for a year back in 2004-2005 Downtown Omaha was pretty much always dead (at least at night), and though the optimist in me saw potential, it still had a LONG way to go. However when I spent a weekend there this August it was a completely different story. It was absolutely crawling with people, new construction projects and renovations of old buildings everywhere... it helps that the downtown is geographically relatively small, because it makes revitalization a very attainable goal. Add in the awesome, human scale pre-war neighborhoods like Midtown and Dundee and Omaha really is a great little city!

[kcexpress69]

It's a great city to visit. I was here last back in 07. Since then, they've made quite a few additions and improvements. Hopefully, they continue to build on it. Thanks for the pics! :cool: