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.
History
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.
Events
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 Season, 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 & 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.
2005 - Mulberry Lane, The Doobie Brothers, and Three Dog Night
2006 - REO Speedwagon and The Fifth Dimension
2007 - KC & the Sunshine Band, Little River Band
2008 - (rained out) Kool & The Gang, .38 Special
2009 - The Guess Who and Grand Funk Railroad performed.
2010 - The Bank of the West Celebrates America concert marked its 20th year in Omaha in 2010 by bringing the national “United In Rock†tour of Foreigner, Styx, and Kansas to the annual free live concert and fireworks show in Memorial Park on Friday, July 2, 2010. Officials estimated attendance reached a record 80,000 attendees.
2011 - Cheap Trick, .38 Special, and local opener Take Me to Vegas for the July 1, 2011 event. The stage moved to the Dodge Street side of the Park for the 2011 concert.
2012 - Huey Lewis and the News, Mockingbird Sun and Scarlett Drive.
2013 - Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Loverboy
2014 - Uncle Kracker, Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Blues Traveler
2015 - Joan Jett & Eddie Money
2016 - Kenny Loggins
See also
- Parks in Omaha, Nebraska
References
