Color postcard (14 x 9 cm.) with an exterior view of the new east wing of Omaha High School, located at 20th and Dodge in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1908 Omaha High School became Central High School. The old High School bell tower is seen above the new structure as the old building was left standing while the new school was built around it. There are corner steps from the sidewalk at the northwest corner of 20th & Dodge Streets leading up to the lawn surrounding the building. The title "Omaha High School, Omaha, Neb." is in red type in the top right corner of the card. Note: one of this postcard's previous owners added glitter to parts of the image.
The first building constructed at this site west of 20th and Capitol Avenue was the Nebraska Territorial Capitol Building. In 1869, the Capitol building was considered unsafe. The building and site was donated to Omaha, and according to the terms of the donation, the property could only be used for educational purposes. The new Omaha High School was completed in 1872. It is the building with the bell tower seen behind the east wing of the newer high school in the image. By 1899 Omaha High School had outgrown the structure and local architect John Latenser Sr. was commissioned to design the new building. The east wing, which is visible in this view, was opened February 3, 1902. The new high school was built in four stages with the old school demolished before the north wing was added leaving a space for a courtyard. The south wing was finished in 1910 and the north and west wings were finished in November, 1912. Now known as Omaha Central High School, it is the oldest high school building in Omaha still in use. This image was taken before 1908 when the Lincoln Statue was erected at the southeast corner of the east wing. Source: Jeffrey Spencer's "Building for the Ages: Omaha's Architectural Landmarks" (2003) p. 85 and "The Story of Old Central" by Central High School (1976) and Omaha Public Schools Educational Research Center.
