Black and white postcard (14 x 9 cm.) with an aerial (birds eye) view of the Union Stockyards in South Omaha, Nebraska. The roof tops of many buildings are seen. This is a view looking west from approximately 25th & P Street taken before the "O" Street bridge was installed in 1903. The title "Partial view of Stock Yards, South Omaha" is at the bottom center.
This is a view looking west from approximately 25th & P Street taken before the "O" Street bridge was installed in 1903. Few industries say "Omaha" like the stockyards. The stockyards began in 1883 when Wyoming cattle baron, Alexander Swan, wanted a livestock market closer than Chicago, IL. Together with six local businessmen, he formed the Union Stockyards on December 1, 1883. The livestock pens covered acres of land. Between 1907 and 1910, most of the old pens were rebuilt with elevated walkways. Buyers could then view the animals without threading their way through the pens. In the early 20th century, Union Stockyards was the world's largest sheep market. The stock yards were dependent upon Union Pacific Railroad to bring livestock to market. On average, 20,000 animals per day arrived at the Union Stockyards for slaughter. Omaha Stockyards: A Century of Marketing; Commemorative Book: 1884-1984. Omaha, NE, 1984, p. 8-11 and Stan Kava, long-time South Omaha resident in personal correspondence to Omaha Public Library dated 16 May 1991.
