Destination: Omaha, Nebraska

Tomorrow I will drive up to Omaha for work, and return Thursday night, so I thought I’d do a little reading on Wikipedia about the city. This isn’t my first time to the city, but it is probably the first time I’ve been there in more than a decade.

Occupied by various native tribes over the years, the area became known as “UmaNhaN”, or Omaha, meaning “those going against the current.” After the Lewis & Clark expedition passed through the area, American settlement of the area began. The city was ultimately incorporated February 2, 1857.

In the 1800s, Omaha was a major player in the meat packing business, shipping the product out on the railway. Like all good Midwestern cities of the time, Omaha was a hotbed of prostitution and gambling, nurtured by political boss Tom Dennison.

A big boon to the Omaha economy during the Great Depression was the location of Offutt Air Base, which ultimately became the home of the Air Force’s Strategic Air Command, tasked with controlling America’s nuclear strike option during the Cold War. The Strategic Air Command was dismantled after the fall of the Soviet Union, with the command of the nuclear arsenal being split between different commands. Offutt is still in operation, and was a stop for President George Bush on September 11, 2001, where he communicated with key military and civilian personnel until it was determined he could safely return to Washington, D.C.

Today, Omaha’s economy is much more diverse than it was in the 1800s, though it still plays a big part in the meat packing industry. Omaha also boasts being the home of one of the world’s richest persons in the world – Warren Buffett.

I cannot forget my own city’s connection to Omaha (besides being a city built on the riches of the cattle industry). Omaha is the location of the main farm team for the Kansas City Royals. That’s not a ringing endorsement these days, but one day the Royals could return to victory as a result of the young talent being developed in Omaha. It is also the home of the NCAA Men's College World Series.

I will be in the city less than 24 hours, so I’m not sure I’ll get to do much, but if there is anything worth noting, I will post it here when I get back.