Originally proposed by a local citizen in an editorial to the Omaha World-Herald, a group of businessmen and leaders, including Storz Brewery owner Robert H. Storz and the Omaha Zoo namesakeHenry Doorly met to discuss a memorial. A site was chosen near Omaha University, where Happy Hollow Club and the Dundee Golf Course were located. The Memorial Park Association was created, and in 1948 it raised funds to create a monument in the park. On June 5, 1948 President Harry S. Truman dedicated the site. In 1959 the Omaha Rose Society added a rose garden, and in 1990 Woodmen of the World added flagpoles and flags along the driveway coming into memorial park. A pedestrian bridge over Dodge Street called the Memorial Park Pedestrian Bridge was completed in 1968. The park was the site of several anti-Vietnam War protests by youth activists in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At Memorial Park, there are over 1,000 rose bushes.
Events
On the last Friday in June, Bank of the West hosts the "Bank of the West Celebrates America" concert in the park, which always ends with a fireworks show in commemoration of the Independence Day holiday. The concert attracts over 50,000 people each year. 1987 - The Lettermen 1988 - Bobby Vinton 1993 - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Drifters 1994 - Bobby Vee, Martha Reevs and the Vandellas 1995 - Frankie Avalon, Sha Na Na 1996 - The Temptations 1997 - The Four Tops, America 1998 - Neil Sedaka, The Shirelles 1999 - Blood, Sweat & Tears; The Drifters 2000 - The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes 2001 - The Beach Boys, Gary Puckett 2002 - Creedence Clearwater Revisited, The Spinners 2003 - The Village People, The Pointers 2004 - The Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night Also in 2004, 311 played at Memorial Park for free in celebration of Omaha's 150th Anniversary. There were over 40,000 people there to celebrate. 2005 - Mulberry Lane, The Doobie Brothers, and Three Dog Night 2006 - REO Speedwagon and The Fifth Dimension 2007 - KC & the Sunshine Band, Little River Band 2008 - Kool & The Gang,.38 Special 2009 - The Guess Who and Grand Funk Railroad performed. 2010 - The Bank of the West Celebrates America concert marked its 20th year in Omaha in 2010 by bringing the national “United In Rock” tour of Foreigner, Styx, and Kansas to the annual free live concert and fireworks show in Memorial Park on Friday, July 2, 2010. Officials estimated attendance reached a record 80,000 attendees. 2011 - Cheap Trick,.38 Special, and local opener Take Me to Vegas for the July 1, 2011 event. The stage moved to the Dodge Street side of the Park for the 2011 concert. 2012 - Huey Lewis and the News, Mockingbird Sun and Scarlett Drive. 2013 - Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Loverboy 2014 - Uncle Kracker, Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Blues Traveler 2015 - Joan Jett & Eddie Money 2016 - Kenny Loggins 2017 - Kool and the Gang
