The Second Livestock Exchange Building

Phyllis Masek, Credentialing Specialist, located the picture below on the Omaha Public Library website. This image is of the second Livestock Exchange Building taken in 1900. The building that we work in is the third Livestock Exchange Building and was completed in 1928. This image shows the structures facing south across “Exchange Avenue” which was later changed to “O” street. At the time of the photo, the street was unpaved. 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 Drexel farmhouse served as the very first livestock exchange. The second exchange building was constructed in 1885 by J. E. Riley and designed by Mendelssohn & Fisher. The brick structure was 4 stories high with an 80 foot tower. The main floor had public offices and the largest dining hall in Nebraska that could seat 400. The second floor was home to the original Stockyards National Bank. A separate structure was built in 1891 to the east of the Exchange. The third and fourth floors primarily served as a hotel for cattlemen doing business with the Exchange. Thanks Phyllis for sharing this with us! I am also posting a picture of our current building taken between 1950 and 1960.