Review: Lost Omaha by Janet Daly Bednarek

Lost Omaha
by Janet Daly Bednarek [978.225 Bed]

As someone interested in Nebraska history, I thought that this book offered an interesting look at Omaha’s history. I was especially interested in the section on Peony Park having spent time there as a teenager. The book has great photos of buildings and landmarks in Omaha that are no longer there. I also enjoyed the research that went into the making of this book.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Historic Omaha : An Illustrated History of Omaha and Douglas County, by Bob Reilly.]

[ publisher’s official Lost Omaha web page ]

Recommended by Kim J.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Omaha's Peony Park

Omaha's Peony Park: An American Legend
by Carl D. Jennings [917.822 Jen]

Another in the popular "local history" series of volumes from Arcadia publishing company. For anyone from the Lincoln and Omaha area who grew up in the 1950s through the 1980s, Omaha's Peony Park was a "must-see" destination. Though small, Peony Park was still an incredibly enjoyable amusement and water park, situated in the heart of the river city. In this thin volume, the author breaks down the eras of Peony Parks history into "The Early Years 1919-1959", "The 50s and 60s", "The 70s and 80s", and "The End and the Beginning". Each section is comprised primarily of black and white photo reproductions, with captions that range from very simplistic to full of details. Named Peony Park because it was originally established across the street from a famed Peony garden in Omaha, one of the park's greatest claims to fame was that it was a popular performance venue for musical groups. Particularly during the Big Band era, but carrying on through the era of rock and roll, the Royal Grove and the Royal Terrance Ballroom played host to dozens of popular musical acts. I particularly remeber playing miniature golf on the golf course within the Park. If you ever visited Peony Park, I recommend this book — it will bring back memories of those fun summer days. If you never got the chance, Omaha's Peony Park: An American Legend is a great snapshot of a bygone era in Nebraska history! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Scott's Reviewer Profile and more of his reviews ]

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try any of the other books by Arcadia publishing.]
[ 2012 Article about Peony Park online ]

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Picture Essays: A Journey Through Life With Camera in Hand

Picture Essays: A Journey Through Life With Camera in Hand
by William E. Ramsey [978.225 Ram]

This one caught my eye on the "new books display" and I'm glad I took a look. Picture Essays is a marvelous photographic treasure trove of Omaha and Nebraska history. Ramsey, a photojournalist for over fifty years in the Omaha area, has compiled an impressive collection of images that chronicle the history of that city (and beyond). Each photograph is accompanied by a personal essay by Ramsey, reminiscing about historical factoids associated with the images or about the circumstances in which the images were shot. His memories are shared in a folksy, matter-of-fact manner, not like a dry historical tome. Major national celebrities and sports figures are featured, but more impressively, Ramsey has celebrated the lives of people known mainly for their works in Eastern Nebraska, with particular emphasis on Boys Town and the churches of Omaha. A small percentage of the images within come from Ramsey's travels across the country and across the world, but mostly, this is a love letter to the river city and its storied history. This is not exactly a book I'd sit down and read cover to cover, but for anyone who's fascinated by Omaha, I'd recommend browsing this one -- a perfect "coffee table" book to inspire a bit of reminiscing of your own! [We don't have as many books in our collection on Omaha history as we do Lincoln, but for those interested in the Capital City's history, told in a folksy way like this one, I'd recommend the books by Mary Jane Nielsen and Jim McKee.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

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Best Easy Day Hikes: Lincoln and Omaha

Best Easy Day Hikes: Lincoln and Omaha
by Michael Ream [917.822 Rea]

I'm a huge fan of the nature guides from Falcon Books -- I rely on their hiking guides to Rocky Mountain National Park every time I vacation in Estes Park and want to hit the trails. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this publisher recently put out a short volume focusing on hiking opportunities in the Lincoln and Omaha area. If you're looking for a quick but detailed guide to interesting places to stretch your legs here in Lincoln, you'll find more than a half-dozen suggestions here, with useful information about what sights to look out for while you're on the trail. Take it along when you head to Omaha, or any of the other nearby locations listed in this volume. The thin paperback format makes it perfect for slipping in your back pocket while you're taking a stroll. Who knows, you might discover a hidden location in the city in which you live! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Falcon Books web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.