Color postcard (14 x 9 cm.) with an exterior view of Omaha High School, located at 20th & Dodge in Omaha, Nebraska. This is a view of the east wing of the high school. The old high school is still standing and is seen directly behind the east wing.
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. 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.
