Omaha Exploration

Updated: January 23, 2025

Charles Turner was a successful timber dealer by the time he moved from Wisconsin to Omaha in 1854 at the age of 32. By 1863 he married Charlotte Kennedy and had both a son, Curtiss, and an adopted daughter, Mary. Charles would go on to amass a fortune by investing in real estate which included the construction of a business block at 10th and Harney.

By 1891 he acquired forty acres of land on which he built one the first large residences in the area that would become known as the Gold Coast District. The Turner residence was located between 33rd and 34th and Farnam. By the time he passed away in 1913, he was among the wealthiest citizens in town. He was preceded in death by his son in 1898, his wife in 1910 and daughter in 1912.

His son, Curtiss, was a prominent civil engineer who met his untimely demise after being buried by an avalanche at Chilkoot Pass in Alaska while engaged in railroad work. Grief-stricken, Charles and Charlotte never recovered from the loss of their son and rarely left their home afterwards. In 1900 they donated six acres of land to be used for a public park. Nestled between Farnam and Dodge just west of the steep hill was later leveled by the city in a massive effort to make the streets more passable for cars.

After Charles’ death in 1913, the Turner residence located at 3316 Farnam was put up for sale. The home had five large rooms with a wide center hallway and staircase on the first floor. The second floor had five bedrooms, four of which had fireplaces and two bathrooms. In addition to a billiards room, there were four additional rooms and two fireplaces on the third floor. After the Omaha Society of Fine Arts failed to acquire the residence as its permanent home, it was sold to Robert McClelland of Tabor, IA for $55K. The house would go on to become the Radium Hospital followed by the Rayhorn Manor before being demolished by 1939. Today the site is home of Mutual of Omaha. 

Curtiss Turner Park which had been dedicated to their son was connected to Hanscom and Bemis Parks via the Boulevard System laid out by Horace Cleveland. The road through the park wasn’t built until 1905 and an ice-skating pond was added a few years later. American War Mothers began raising money in 1923 in order to build a World War I memorial. The large monument was originally planned for Elmwood Park but after being delayed for years due to cost, the monument was ultimately scaled back and installed in the SE corner of Turner Park in 1937. A miniature 9-foot, 200-pound Statue of Liberty was placed in the park in 1951. It was one of 200 paid for by the Boy Scouts to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the 40th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. The statue was removed by the city in 1976 due to wear and tear and remains in storage. The park was the site of a huge birthday cake celebrating Omaha’s Centennial in 1954 as well as a free outdoor fete in 1963 to end the city’s beautification days event.

The park gained prominence again in 2010 when it became the centerpiece of the Midtown Crossing development. The park was expanded as a part of that project with the new portion on the west being surrounded by mixed use buildings that house restaurants, retail, event spaces and offices on the ground floor with a large patio overlooking the park. On the upper floors are residences, some of which also have a spectacular view of the park. 

The park gained prominence again in 2010 when it became the centerpiece of the Midtown Crossing development. It was expanded as a part of that project with the new portion on the west being surrounded by mixed use buildings that house restaurants, retail, event spaces and offices on the ground floor with a large patio overlooking the park. On the upper floors are residences, some of which also have a spectacular view of the park. Sitting between Blackstone and the Old Market, the old park will also be a stop along the upcoming streetcar route.

The park will be casting a new replica Statue of Liberty to replace the old one. She will be 8′ 6″ tall and placed atop an 8’granite pedestal surrounded by a granite plaza. The goal is to install the new statue in 2026.

While researching I read about a plan to relocate pillars from the old courthouse to the entrance of the park as well as the addition of tennis courts. I’m not sure if either proposal came to fruition and if they did, they aren’t there today. Since the park isn’t as well documented as some others, I’m sure there are things that I missed. If you know something I didn’t include, please let me know. 

I’d like to hear what you have to say so feel free to comment. If there’s someplace, you’d like to learn more about, you can post that as well. Until next time, keep exploring!

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Bonus pics