Green Book Omaha

    • In June 2023, 17 Omaha Public School students, four social studies teachers, and two college students learned about The Green Book, a guide produced for African Americans listing places where they were welcomed when traveling from the 1940s through the mid-1960s. By 1962, it is estimated that 2 million people were using the Green Book to travel. 

      Omaha had 30 Green Book sites. Twenty-six were located on Omaha's Near North Side, three lined Q Street from 25th to 27th Street and one was on 11th Street just steps away from the Burlington and Union Train Stations. They included a mix of hotels and tourist homes, service stations, drug stores, taverns, and even a tailor. Through oral interviews with Green Book scholars and community elders, field trips to the sites, and research in local archives, the participants mapped and shared information about each site. 

      The group uncovered that Omaha's Green Book sites were unique. While in other cities a large majority of the Green Book sites were owned by African Americans, in Omaha census records showed the properties were owned by a mix of African Americans (60%), Jewish, Czech, Danish, Yugoslavian, and Irish immigrants. 

      While scholars estimate that 20% of the Green Book sites are still standing, Omaha has 36% that still exist. While none of the original Green Book sites serve the same purpose as they did in the 1940s and 1950s, the properties have taken on other uses. 

      To learn more about the project and each of Omaha's Green Book sites, scroll below. 

       

      A map pinpointing Omaha's Green Book sites. Click on the double arrows, top left, for a key to the sites. Use the + and - arrows to zoom in and out and locate specific properties using the search bar. 

       

        Hotels/Tourist Homes

        • The Broadview Hotel - 2060 N. 19th Street

        • The Patton Hotel - 1014-18 S. 11th Street/2425 Erskine

        • The Walker Hotel - 2504 Charles Street

        • The Willis Hotel - 2324 N. 22nd Street

        • Dee Gee Apartments - 2020 Burt Street

        • Mrs. C.H. Hicks Tourist Home - 2530 Maple Street

        • L. Strawther Tourist Home - 2220 Willis Avenue

        • Miss W. M. Anderson Tourist Home - 2207 N. 25th Street

        • Mrs. M. Smith Tourist Home - 2211 Ohio Street

        • G. H. Ashby Tourist Home - 2228 Willis Avenue

        • Dave Brown Tourist Home - 2619 Caldwell Street

        Restaurants/Taverns/Nightclubs

        • Red Brick Tavern - 2723 Q Street

        • Myrtis Tavern - 2229 Lake Street

        • Len's Tavern - 2424 Q Street

        • Apex Tavern - 1818 N. 24th Street

        • Railroad Men's Benevolent Club - 2701 N. 24th Street

        • Sharp Inn - 2314 N. 24th Street

        • Neal's Restaurant - 2421 N. 24th Street

        • Cozy Grill Restaurant - 2615 N. 24th Street

        Service Stations

        • Kaplan Service Station - 2301-03 N. 24th Street

        • Deep Rock Service Station - 1501 N. 24th Street

        • Villone's/Gabby's Service Station

        Drug Stores/Liquor Stores/Tailor

        • Hermansky's Drug Store - 2725 Q Street

        • Johnson Drug Store -2306-08 N. 24th Street

        • Duffy Drug Store - 2424 N. 24th Street

        • Reid's Drug Store - 1602 N. 24th Street

        • Thrifty Liquor Store - 2501 N. 24th Street

        • The Liquor Store - 2315 Cuming Street

        • Crown Liquor Store - 1512 N. 24th Street

        • Tip Top Tailor - 1804 N. 24th Street

        Project Resources