1. E Pluribus Omaha A look at Ethnic Omaha

2. 1890 to World War I  Immigrants come to Omaha from Eastern and Northern Europe  Germany  Czechoslovakia (Bohemia)  Jews

3. Why come to Omaha?  Work - meat packing, rail road, agriculture  Sense of Community  Free land! Why live in the same part of the city?  Safety  Families  Similar living traits (food, language, dress, etc.)

4. Coming to the new country  When you first arrived, you were set up to live above an ethnic business  You lived there until you made enough money to move out and buy your own place  Then a new immigrant came in to live and so on…..

5. Jewish Community  Centered around 24 th and Lake Streets in North Omaha  Moved west as the wealth went west in the city  New center on 132 nd between Pacific and Dodge Streets (JCC)  Important people – Jonas Brandeis, Rose Blumkin  Key Contributions: Establishment of a “financial district”

6. Brandeis and the Titanic  Emil Brandies was headed home from Europe early  He gave up his seat in a life boat to a young mother and her child  He was found floating in the water after 3 days  Only identification was a gold pocket watch & cigarette case w/ his initials

7. The gold pocket watch of Emil Brandeis & an inventory of his belongings (Durham Western Heritage Museum)

8. Brandeis Family Plot

10. German Community  South Omaha (just south of Rosenblatt)  German American Society now is on 120 th Street between Center and I Streets  Important people: Fred Krug, Peter Iler, and the Kountze Brothers  Strong emphasis on education and religion (Lutheran)  Schools were closely tied to Lutheran churches (Preschools, Elementary)

11. Irish Community  First Immigrants to move to Omaha in great numbers  Settled in downtown & in the area of I-80 and I-480 meet (Sheelytown)  Key Contributions: Catholic Religion  Important people: Edward & John Creighton, Patrick and Shamus Sheely, Father Edward Flanagan, John Mulhull

12. Black Community  North 24 th and Lake Streets  Moved to Omaha during WW I to escape poverty and racism  Key Contributions: Religion (Baptists, African Methodist Church-AMC)  Important people: Ernie Chambers, Bob Gibson, Gale Sayers, Ahman Green, Malcolm Little

13. Czech (Bohemian) Community  13 th and Martha Streets  Little Bohemia  Key Contributions: Food, opened sports programs in their “Sokal” halls  Important people: Roman Hruska (Neb. Senator)

14. Italian Community  Little Italy/Sicily (South of the Durham Western Heritiage Museum) on 10 th street  Key Contributions: Food establishments/restaurants  Important people: Caniglia, Orsi, Rotella

15. Polish Community  Just south of downtown, in Sheelytown and Sarpy County (Papillion)  Key Contributions: Labor

16. Hispanic Community (Mexican)  South Omaha 13 th and Vinton Streets  Key Contributions: Latin celebrations, Food, Religion (Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is the focal point)  Important people: Edward “Babe” Gomez, Medal of Honor recipient

17. Edward “Babe” Gomez  Born in South Omaha in 1932  He was the 3 rd of 12 children  His 5 foot 2 inch frame made him a target to bullies  At 17, eager to see the world, he joined the USMC Reserve and was sent to Korea in 1950  Wounded after only being there 2 months  He was killed protecting his platoon mates from a Chinese hand grenade, giving his life for others  He was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest medal for bravery

18. Edward “Babe” Gomez

19. New Immigrants to Omaha  The Sudanese  Fleeing ethnic violence in Sudan  The cultural center is 30 th & California streets, by the TAC building