Omaha in 1860

When Henry Palmer of Wisconsin visited Omaha in 1860, he saw a city that was only a shadow of what it would become. Well, mostly what he saw was “prairie covered with buffalo grass, a dry parched looking country”

Omaha in 1860 was only a shadow of what it would later become. Henry E. Palmer, a native of Wisconsin, crossed the Missouri River to Omaha on a steam ferry in March of 1860 and recorded his impressions of the fledgling city. Palmer’s arrival was not particularly auspicious. The ferry on which he arrived got stuck on a sandbar, and “there we remained until about 4:00 P.M.–no breakfast, no dinner, no lunch. No man ever first touched Nebraska soil with a better appetite than did I.”

Palmer soon located a friend in Omaha, James A. Maxwell, with whom he boarded for a short time while he saw the sights:

I remember the Herndon House, at the time the largest and best hotel in the Missouri Valley from the head to the mouth of the river, until recently Union Pacific headquarters. I remember, too, that there were only three or four brick store buildings in Omaha, and if I am not mistaken, not more than that number of brick residences, all small. Nearly all the buildings were frame and generally one story. Only 1,600 people were there at that time; very few houses south of Harney, and I think, none west of 20th. The capitol building on the site of the present high school grounds [Omaha was the capital of Nebraska Territory] was the one conspicuous building of Omaha; it could be seen from the bluffs, beyond Council Bluffs, from the valley, and for miles around.

J. Maxwell Clark [James Maxwell’s nephew] . . . and I climbed to the dome one Sunday, my first Sunday in Nebraska, and looked out upon the barren and almost trackless west. From a point west of 20th street I am sure I saw no houses save a ranch near the military bridge about 24th and Cuming streets. The old military road climbing the hill west to where the waterworks reservoir is, and on over the present route to Benson, was plainly visible. Not a house from 24th and Cuming streets to Elkhorn City, twenty-three miles west. There were only a few cottonwood trees along the creek spanned by the military bridge, a gulch or ravine that heads one fork about 34th and Poppleton, and one fork about 39th and Farnam. As far west as I could see there was no timber; only prairie, unbroken and unfenced; prairie covered with buffalo grass, a dry parched looking country. I venture to say that there are now more growing trees in the city limits of Omaha than there was in the entire county of Douglas in 1860, possibly in the entire state.

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

Chief, The Last U.S. Cavalry Horse

Chief, The Last U.S. Cavalry Horse

The First Frisbee Competition? Lincoln, 1957

The First Frisbee Competition? Lincoln, 1957

Marker Monday: Father Kano

Marker Monday: Father Kano

About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Director Daryl Bohac. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

NSHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.