Memorial Park (Omaha) Informations

Memorial Park is a park located at 6005 Underwood Avenue near the Dundee neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska. The park was created as a memorial for all of the men and women from Douglas County who have served in the armed forces.

Originally proposed by a local citizen in an editorial to the Omaha World-Herald, a group of businessmen and leaders, including Storz Brewery owner Robert H. Storz and the Omaha Zoo namesake Henry Doorly met to discuss a memorial. A site was chosen near Omaha University, where Happy Hollow Club and the Dundee Golf Course were located. The Memorial Park Association was created, and in 1948 it raised funds to create a monument in the park.

On June 5, 1948 President Harry S. Truman dedicated the site. In 1959 the Omaha Rose Society added a rose garden, and in 1990 Woodmen of the World added flagpoles and flags along the driveway coming into memorial park. A pedestrian bridge over Dodge Street called the Memorial Park Pedestrian Bridge was completed in 1968. The park was the site of several anti-Vietnam War protests by youth activists in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

At Memorial Park, there are over 1,000 rose bushes.

On the last Friday in June, Bank of the West hosts the "Bank of the West Celebrates America" concert in the park, which always ends with a fireworks show in commemoration of the Independence Day (United States) holiday. The concert attracts over 50,000 people each year.

1987 - The Lettermen

1988 - Bobby Vinton

1993 - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Drifters

1994 - Bobby Vee, Martha Reevs and the Vandellas

1995 - Frankie Avalon, Sha Na Na

1996 - The Temptations

1997 - The Four Tops, America

1998 - Neil Sedaka, The Shirelles

1999 - Blood, Sweat and Tears; The Drifters

2000 - The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes

2001 - The Beach Boys, Gary Puckett

2002 - Creedence Clearwater Revisited, The Spinners

2003 - The Village People, The Pointers

2004 - (rained out)The Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night

Also in 2004, 311 played at Memorial Park for free in celebration of Omaha's 150th Anniversary. There were over 40,000 people there to celebrate.

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