HISTORY
The Old Market in 1900, Howard Street looking west from 10th Street.
50 Y E A RS WA SN’ T T HE BEGINNING
t
he Old Market marked 50 years as an entertainment district in 2020.
Long before it became a popular place to eat, shop, and live, the area was a hub where produce was sold. Warehouses were replaced by the current trendy shops and restaurants; before that (1850s-1870s), the area was mostly residential.
The Old Market’s first big challenge arose in the late 1800s when city officials in Omaha decided they wanted to build a Market House, a large building where vendors could sell produce directly to consumers at Capitol Avenue from North 12th to North 14th avenues. These market houses were common in larger cities at this time—and as Omaha’s population grew (Nebraska’s population // 42 //
MARCH/APRIL 2021
doubled from 1880-1890) many people wanted to mimic larger cities—but opponents said the existence of the Market House would threaten the Old Market’s status as a hub for produce distribution. Old Market vendors, led by landowner Dr. Samuel D. Mercer, banded together to oppose this Market House, which was built in 1903. Mercer owned many buildings in the downtown area, including a building that was then used as a marketplace. Many vendors refused to sell at the Market House and it wasn’t the public hit officials had anticipated, closing within a year. In 1907, the building was repurposed for use by the Nebraska National Guard and by 1909 was used by the zoo as a place to house some animals in the winter months. The structure was demolished in 1910.
