The Old Market in Omaha in Douglas County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Burlington Building 1879

The Old Market

— Historic Walking Tour —

Burlington Building 1879 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, July 14, 2023

1. Burlington Building 1879 Marker

Inscription. The initial "B" identifies this as the headquarters for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, which occupied the upper floors upon completion in 1879 of the original building designed by A.R. Dufrene. Nave, McCord & Brady, wholesale grocers, occupied the first floor. In 1885, a fourth floor and a 22-foot front addition to the west were completed. Then in 1899, a local architect, Thomas Kimball, was hired to remodel the structure to resemble the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad building, a Chicago showplace. He replaced the original cast iron facade with brick and stone trim, tearing out the center of the building to add a skylighted interior courtyard, ornate ironwork, an elevator, and a floor of octagonal glass bricks, which allowed light into the basement. Each floor had fireproof and burglarproof vaults and several fireplaces. In 1966, the Burlington Railroad left the building and sold it to the city. It was then unused until 1983, when it was restored for office space, becoming one of the first successful renovations of a 19th century building in Omaha.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 41° 15.461′ N, 95° 55.776′ W. Marker is in Omaha, Nebraska, in Douglas County. It is in The Old Market. It is on Farnam Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is on the building near the doors. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1004 Farnam Street Omaha NE 68102, Omaha NE 68102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Nebraska. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the prairies.

Globally, it is in North America,

the

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Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: United States National Bank Building Arch (within shouting distance of this marker); Millard Block 1880-1881 (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Morse Coe Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Baum Iron Company Building 1880 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Omaha Firehouse 1903-1904 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Windsor Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); J.P. Cooke Building 1885-1889 (approx. ¼ mile away); Omaha's First Building (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Omaha.

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, July 14, 2023

2. Burlington Building 1879 Marker

Burlington Building image. Click for full size.

December 26, 2024

3. Burlington Building

Credits. This page was last revised on January 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2023, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. This page has been viewed 348 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 23, 2023, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. 3. submitted on January 17, 2025. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.