You will find this memorial in front of the Omaha Police Department Headquarters. There is metered…read morestreet parking and commercial garages within a reasonable walking distance. The memorial is well done and was constructed to honor police officers who served and protected people in the name of safety and freedom. The memorial is the work of John Lajba, who was commissioned by the city to construct the memorial. It was dedicated on Police Memorial Day, May 15, 1993 and lists over 20 names of Officers killed in the line of duty. It consists of 3 bronze sculptures sitting on a tall granite base, a granite slab, and 5 flag poles. The sculptures depict a police kneeling while providing assistance to a young girl that is sitting on the ground. Another police officer is standing and looking down at the officer assisting the girl. They are very detailed pieces and look awesome. It is well illuminated for night viewing and is tastefully and respectfully done. The base that the sculptures sit on has an Omaha Police Badge and an inscription that reads: "This monument represents the men and women of the Omaha Police Department and their families. Since 1887, this organization has served and protected our community in order that we may all live in a free and safe society. It is with respect and appreciation that the citizens of Omaha honor these dedicated people." The tall granite slab to the left of the sculptures, list the names and end of watch of the 25 OPD Officers, the last being in 2013, that died in the line of duty. The 5 flag poles, with the American Flag being in the center serve as the backdrop to the memorial and has the flags waving high, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I like this memorial. It is a small, but fitting tribute to the brave Omaha Police Officers that made the ultimate sacrifice. As with most memorials like this that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

This is a very simple statement of one family and specifically 2 people Granville Dodge and his…read morewife. The description above does a very good job of telling you what to see. During the summer it is a fountain, although the city has been having problems with the piping and it seems to off frequently. If you take the time to stand or sit by the edge of the fountain there is a quiet presence. That it is even here is a story because when the next generations of the Dodge family left Council Bluffs the stature was dismantled and stored in their basement. Many years later when the property was bought with the intent of restoring it to its original look the statue was found. Eventually, a suitable location was found to place it. A personal side note because I live only a few houses from the angel. While they deny it now the Angel goes through stages of legends being told by the kids nearby. She is said to talk or move possibly even cry at certain times of the year. Full moons and Halloween are considered prime times. None of us can verify if any of the legends are true but I know of several 'now adults' who visited the Angel when they were kids usually without their parent's knowledge or approval.

Yes I'm reviewing another cemetery. My friend has a thing for these black angels scattered through…read moreIowa so we found another one (I previously reviewed one in Iowa City). Locally known in Council Bluffs as the "Black Angel," this statue was inspired by visions experienced by Ruth Anne Dodge, the wife of General Dodge, in 1916 on the three nights preceding her death. This memorial sculpture, dedicated in 1920, represents a dream experienced by Ruth Anne Dodge. The angel, on the prow of a boat, extends her hand and offers the water of life. The solid bronze statue, commissioned by the Dodges' two daughters, was created by Daniel Chester French who call the Black Angel one of his finest works. French is known nationally for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. According to the legend, Mrs. Dodge related to family members that she had a vision of being on a rocky shore and, through a mist, seeing a boat approach. In the prow was a beautiful young woman whom Mrs. Dodge thought to be an angel. The woman carried a small bowl under one arm and extended the other arm toward Mrs. Dodge in an invitation to partake of the water flowing from the vessel. Then, according to accounts later published by Mrs. Dodge's daughter, Anne, the angel spoke twice, saying: "Drink, I bring you both a promise and a blessing." The daughter wrote that the vision came three times to her mother and, on the third visit, Mrs. Dodge took the drink as offered and felt "transformed into a new and glorious spiritual being." Mrs. Dodge died immediately after her supposed third vision, on September 5, 1916. She had died in her sleep at her home in New York. Her body was brought back to Council Bluffs where she was buried in a mausoleum in Walnut Hill Cemetery. The memorial was commissioned in 1917 to Daniel Chester French, the same man who sculpted the statue of the Minute Man in Concord, Massachusetts and the Lincoln Memorial Statue in Washington DC. The ten foot tall angel statue is made of solid bronze. The construction of the statue took approximately two years, and the cost of the statue was reported at around $40,000. Council Bluffs began its fine military record during the Civil War when, in 1861, the attack on Fort Sumter brought four companies of the town's volunteers to the famed Fourth Iowa Infantry. In command was Captain Grenville M. Dodge, later promoted to Colonel, then General. As the War ended, Dodge returned to the Bluffs, built an impressive home on Third Street for his wife, Ruth Anne, and family, and took a job as surveyor and chief engineer for the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. Four years prior to the War, Abraham Lincoln, in a personal visit, had designated Council Bluffs as the eastern terminus for this first transcontinental line. Dodge later built railroads all over the world and was president of seven of them before he died. Grenville's daughters, Anne Dodge and Eleanor Dodge Pusey, commissioned and contributed this city's most valuable work of art in memory of their mother, Ruth Anne Dodge. Located very near to the cemetery where The Black Angel is located, is a monument marking the spot where Abe Lincoln selected this as the terminus of The Union Pacific Railroad. This impressive pylon was erected in July, 1911 and commemorates Abraham Lincoln's visit to the site in 1859. From this site, Lincoln viewed and selected the Eatern Terminus of the first transcontinental railroad built on the United States.

This bridge connects the River Front with the downtown area, more specifically Lewis and Clark…read moreLanding and CHI Health Center. It is well light and has informational placards about MLK along the way. You will find a fenced covered walkway along your route. This is a very nice bridge that not only saves you a lot of time, but provides you with some MLK highlights along the way. The bridge is popular with people heading to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, people attending an event at the Center, pedestrians, runners and bicyclists. Some people park on the Riverfront side and walk over the bridge to the Center. Especially for large events. I do not know if it is cheaper, but I saw a lot of people doing it for the Dave Chappell show at the Center. The bridge was recent closed for repairs and renovations in 2022 and is in decent shape. I know that it saved me a lot of time going across the bridge. It takes you over train tracks. I know that this bridge saved me a lot of time getting where I needed to go versus going all the way around.

This is a very nice memorial that was introduced in 2009. It can be found at Lewis and Clark…read moreLanding and there is metered street parking and a commercial lot available for visitors to park. The memorial features an amazing bronze sculpture titled the protector. It is the work of Matthew Placzek and depicts a firefighter carrying a young girl while supporting a second, kneeling firefighter. You can feel the sculptures pride and pain. It was donated by Firefighters Union 385. The memorial's plaza area is set up in a circular formation with the stature in the center. There is a bench for visitor to sit and reflect in the area and there are 3 flag poles waving the American Flag in the center, flanked by the Nebraska State flag to its left and another flag to its right. The place is well lit at night and is well maintained. Its landscaping was in excellent shape and firefighters volunteer periodically to take care of it. There are two granite pillars that are about waist height, one marked with "Honor" and the other marked with "Tradition". The one with the word Honor has a bronze plaque on top of it that lists the 55+ Omaha firefighters that made the ultimate sacrfafice. The other pillar has a plaque on it that gives a history of Omaha firefighting, the union, and ends with a quote by Omaha Fire Department Chief Eugene Fields who died of pneumonia on January 8, 1962 after leaving a hospital bed to respond to a two-alarm fire. The quote reads, "Firemanship is a peculiar vocation steeped in tradition. The man who joins just to have a job shouldn't be a fireman. There's sort of a fraternity that surrounds men who face danger together. The fire department becomes a part of you and you of it." This is an awesome memorial and a fitting tribute to Omaha Bravest that made the ultimate sacrifice, but I do understand that this is probably not a destination attraction. so, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

I've had the unique opportunity to travel to this location on several occasions as part of the OPD…read moreExplorer Program. The officers who work in the stables are very knowledgeable and have dedicated themselves to these horses. Visiting this location allows you to gain a "behind the scenes" representation of the living conditions and training conditions for the animals that make up the Omaha Police Department Mounted Patrol.

It's #ThankYouThursday and I am so thankful to be apart of the community in the city of Omaha…read more Collectively I can feel all of us moving forward and cultivating and creating a more inclusive space for everyone. If the construction bothers you, imagine not developing! These are just growing pains. I am loving all the new developments and opportunities for work and play. More and more each pocket of the city is becoming its own little area for near by neighborhoods, and destinations for those looking to try something new. We've got one of the biggest locally owned business scen and I love keeping our dollars in our city. Looking forward to seeing what all comes and pops up in 2024!

This city and state sucks complete ass! And I can say that because I was raised here! Hit a crater…read moreof a pothole on NO 72nd in January. Got a claim form, followed the directions, got my estimates mailed it in. Get a letter from the legal department saying according to the state, Omaha IS NOT liable for the destroyed rim or tire, and the potential underbody damage, because of some draconian law they are allowed to hide behind! Charge all this damn money annually for wheel tax, plates, registration among other things, and they can't keep the damned streets fixed?! Now I'm on the hook for new tires and rims?! What if I get hit by a city vehicle? Am I liable for that too?! FCK OMAHA!!! BASTARDS!!!

The "Little People's House," which is the politically correct term for what is technically, a…read more"Midget House," is also known as the "Bregant House." Whew! Built in Council Bluffs, Iowa for a tiny Coney Island, N.Y. vaudeville couple in 1912, the house was custom designed to fit the needs of Jean Bregant, who was 42 inches tall and Inez Lewis Bregant who was a robust 39 inches tall. The small home is termed a simple Craftsman Bungalow, which was a popular architectural style in the early part of the 20th Century. "Ceilings and doorways were built to normal height for when normal sized friends came to visit the Bregants, but the fireplace, bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances were scaled to fit the small couple," said a story on www.nonpareilonline.com I love the 40-inch-high fireplace, small kitchen appliances and mini claw foot bathtub. The home sits amidst several larger homes that now surround it. Best of all, this very quaint home was designated in 2013, as a local landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to www.frontporchnationcom, " A preservation group called Preserve Council Bluffs is raising money to restore the house. One of the most recent projects was restoring the front porch. That included shoring up the foundation and bricks, as well as restoring the original latticework in front." There is a gofundme page set up to solicit donations for Bregant House upkeep. https://www.gofundme.com/5ovym0 4 YELP STARS for this most unusual but fascinating historical home.