Omaha Driving Park
The Omaha Driving Park, later called Sunset Driving Park, was located in North Omaha, Nebraska, United States.[1] It was an important recreational and sports venue in the history of Omaha.
History
In 1875, the Omaha Driving Park Association purchased a parcel of land located between Laird and Boyd Streets, and 16th to 20th Streets for horse racing. A fair association leased it, added some features. The Douglas County Fair had been held on the site since 1858. In 1880 the grounds were sold to a group of businessmen that included John Creighton, James E. Boyd and William A. Paxton. The new owners spent $15,000 to improve the grounds, and for several years after this the Nebraska State Fair was sporadically held here.[2]
The Park hosted Buffalo Bill's first official performance of the Wild West Show on May 19, 1883. 8,000 people attended the premiere, and in 1898 the Park featured a local wild west show as part of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition.[3] The Park fell into disuse by 1899. It was renamed as Sunset Driving Park in 1904,[4] and sponsored races in which Barney Oldfield and Alonzo Webb beat world records for speed.[5] Auto racing events were held there through 1908.[6]
By 1910 Sunset Driving Park had relocated west of the city and was eventually renamed the Sunset Speedway. The old driving park on Sprague Street was broken up into 100 lots and offered for sale for residential purposes. The driving park was the last unoccupied part of the Kountze Place suburb.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Glazier, W. (2006) Ocean To Ocean On Horseback: Being the Story of a Tour in the Saddle. Kessinger Publishing. p 444.
- ^ "History at a Glance", Douglas County Historical Society. Retrieved 4/27/08.
- ^ "Buffalo Bill at the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition and Indian Congress of 1898"[usurped], Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 4/19/08.
- ^ Omaha Driving Park Track Info. The GEL Motorsport Information Page. Retrieved 4/27/08.
- ^ McConnell, C. (2000) Coast to Coast by Automobile: The Pioneering Trips, 1899-1908. Stanford University Press. p. 213.
- ^ (1908) International motor cyclopaedia. E.E. Schwarzkopf. p 80.
- ^ "History at a Glance", Douglas County Historical Society. Retrieved 4/27/08.
- v
- t
- e
- Squatter's Row
- Gophertown
- Benson
- Dundee
- Bemis Park
- Gifford Park
- Gold Coast
- Kountze Place
- Miller Park
- Walnut Hill
- Orchard Hill
- Florence
- East Omaha
- Saratoga
- Scriptown
- Casey's Row
- Near North Side
- Kountze Park
- Omaha Driving Park
- Omaha University
- Redick Mansion
- Logan Fontenelle Housing Project
- Dreamland Ballroom
- Fort Lisa
- Cutler's Park
- Winter Quarters
- Prospect Hill Cemetery
- Fort Omaha
- General Crook House
- Storz Brewery
- Bank of Florence
- The Sherman
- Broomfield Rowhouse
- Carter Lake
- Minne Lusa Theater
- Howard Kennedy School
- Lake School
- Kellom School
- Lothrop School
- Long School
- Tech High
- North High
- Central High School
- Florence Elementary School
- Central Park Elementary School
- Druid Hill Elementary School
- Fontenelle Elementary School
- Monroe Middle School
- Benson High
- Franklin Elementary School
- Hartman Elementary School
- Kellom Elementary School
- Lothrop Magnet Center
- Miller Park Elementary School
- Minne Lusa Elementary School
- Sherman Elementary School
- Skinner Magnet Center
- Walnut Hill Elementary School
- Calvin Memorial Presbyterian Church
- Holy Family Catholic Church
- Pearl Memorial United Methodist Church
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church
- Salem Baptist Church
- St. Cecilia Cathedral
- St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church
- Zion Baptist Church
- North Freeway/US 75
- Eppley Airfield
- North Omaha Airport
- Metro Area Transit
- Florence Depot
- Mormon Bridge
- Dodge
- North 24th
- North 30th Street
- Florence Boulevard
- Fontenelle Boulevard
- John A. Creighton Boulevard
- Lincoln Boulevard
This article related to Omaha, Nebraska is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e
This article about a sports venue in Nebraska is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e