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Omaha, Nebraska
Sitting next to the Missouri River, the city of
Omaha is the biggest city in the state of
Nebraska and nicknamed the gateway to the west. The city was started in the
mid 1800s when neighboring speculators from Council Bluffs, Iowa came to the
area. Because of its central location in the United States, it soon became
a national transportation hub, with railroads crisscrossing the country and
soon breweries began to grow. In the 20th century, the stockyards became
well known, as well as its meatpacking plants. It is now home to 5 Fortune
500 companies; Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific Corporation, Mutual of
Omaha companies, Peter Kiewit and Sons, Inc. and ConAgra Foods.
BerkshireHathaway is the company that the richest man in the world heads,
Warren Buffet. It is home to 4 of the Fortune 1000 companies, 3 of the
world's top architectural and engineering firms, and named one of the top
ten high tech havens in the country. Tourism is important to the city's
economy, with the College World Series being held here, the Henry Doorly
Zoo, and the city was host to the 2008 Olympic swim trials and will host it
again in 2012.
Before the settlers began coming to the area, it was
home to many Native American tribes from the 1600s to the ceding of the area
to become Omaha, by the Omaha Tribe under the leadership of Logan Fontenelle.
Over the next fifty years, the economy went on a roller coaster ride, as
settlers, immigrants and migrants came to the area for work and left for
other reasons. Entering into the 20th century brought more unrest as the
ethnic groups vied for jobs and housing. The first chapter of the NAACP,
west of the Mississippi was formed in the city, in 1912, and the racial
tension between the whites and blacks went up and down as the economy
fluctuated. The depression years didn't help, and it wasn't until the
second World War that the jobs stabilized. The Glenn Martin Company had a
factory in Omaha that built 521 B-29 Superfortresses, including the Enola
Gay and Bockscar that were used to bomb Japan. Interstate highways were
built into the area and traveling cross country became easier and faster.
The Strategic Air Command was moved to Omaha in 1948,
helping the economy and during the 50s and 60s, over 40 insurance companies
were located in the city. In the late 50s, meatpacking plants lost jobs
under restructuring as did the railroad industry. The first skyscraper and
tallest building was erected in 1969, and the city started to grow. Old
buildings, factories and warehouses were torn down and replaced with
apartments, condos and shopping areas, which helped change the landscape of
the downtown area and the rebuilding continued until the 21st century. More
skyscrapers and cultural institutions were built, and the riverfront area
began to grow bringing a new arena of jobs, culture and beauty to the city.
The 2008 Olympic swim trials have brought some notoriety to the city and the
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge has also helped, with it foot and bicycle
traffic.
A lot of the city has been listed on the National
Register of Historic Places and the numerous Fortune 500 and 1000 companies
have raised the impression of this city. Tourism is a continuing economic
help and cultural venues have made some great advances. The diversity of
the ethnic groups have given the city some marvelous music and the many
sport teams and clubs have also added. 1960 Summer Olympics gold medal
winner and NBA star Bob Boozer was born here, as was Bob Gibson, a baseball
Hall of Fame recipient, Gale Sayers, Johnny Rodgers and Eric Crouch, both
Heisman Trophy winners, Gregg Olson and Ahman Green and Andy Roddick. There
are 11 colleges and universities in the city with 10 more nearby. Gerald
Ford was born here, as was Montgomery Clift, Fred and Adele Astaire, Dorothy
McGuire, Nick Nolte and Marlon Brando.
When traveling to Omaha,
the best way to get around is to rent a car, saving you money, time and less
worries. It also adds flexibility to your trip with many people picking up
their rental car at or near the Omaha International Airport because it
allows you so many more choices. The rental car company can pick you up at
or near the Omaha International Airport, making it even easier on you.
Whatever your needs are, we can help you choose the best vehicle for your
traveling needs whether it is a compact, mid-size, full-size, luxury car,
minivan or SUV. The next visit to Omaha you make, let us help you choose
the best rental car for your needs.
Dollar Rental Car Specials
Dollar Rental Car - Omaha International
Airport
The Henry Doorly Zoo, in Omaha,
states its mission is to research, educate, conserve and recreation; and has
been nationally accredited with animal research and conservation. Rising
from the old Riverview Park Zoo, that started in 1894, the Doorly include
numerous praiseworthy exhibits, including; Desert Dome, which is the world's
biggest indoor desert; Kingdoms of the Night, which is the world's biggest
nocturnal and indoor swamp; biggest cat complex in North America; and the
Lied Jungle, which is the world's biggest indoor rainforest. It also has
the world's biggest geodesic dome and over 25 million people have visited in
the last 4 decades. It sits on 130 acres, with more than 17,000 animals, 7
threatened species; 276 bird species; 44 endangered species; 962 total
species; 103 invertebrate species, with 7600 specimens; 184 mammal species
and 2025 specimens; 42 amphibian species and 487 specimens.
Thrifty Rental
Car Specials
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Joslyn Castle is the former home of George and Sarah
Joslyn, built in 1903 in a Scottish Baronial style of architecture, and
added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The mansion
contains 35 rooms, music room, gold drawing room, reception hall, ballroom,
carriage house and 5 acres of formal gardens, greenhouses and landscaping.
Made of Vermont silverdale limestone, the wrought iron door on the castle
weighs just over a ton. A 1913 tornado did a lot of damage, as did a
terrible storm in June of 2008. It is still a marvel and wonderful example
of the style of living that many people had in this era in Omaha.
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