Woodmen of the World Building (Omaha, Nebraska)

The former Woodmen of the World Building in Omaha, Nebraska, was located at 1323 Farnam Street. Built in 1912 by the architectural firms of Holibard and Roche and Fisher and Lawrie, the building was the headquarters of Woodmen of the World (WOW) from 1912 until 1934. WOW relocated in 1934 to the Bee Newspaper Building at 17th and Farnam, also known as the Insurance Building.

Not to be confused with WoodmenLife Tower.
Woodmen of the World Building
The Woodmen of the World Building shortly after construction in 1912
Former location within Nebraska
General information
StatusDemolished
TypeCommercial office
Architectural styleItalian Renaissance[1]
Location1323 Farnam Street
Omaha, Nebraska
CountryUnited States
Coordinates41°15′28.29″N 95°56′21.2″W
Completed1912
DemolishedDecember 18, 1977[2]
Cost$1,500,000[3]
OwnerWoodmen of the World
Height242 ft (73.8 m)
Technical details
Floor count19
Design and construction
Architecture firmHolibard and Roche, Fisher and Lawrie

History

The first WOW building in Omaha was the 1885 Sheely Building, occupied by WOW in 1890 soon after the Woodmen of the World was organized. The company then purchased the Sheely Building in 1900 for $60,000 and applied its own name to the headquarters, but the building was too small for a rapidly growing business.[3]

The new WOW building would be 19 stories, the tallest building between Chicago and the West coast, at the time of its dedication in 1912. It was the tallest building in Downtown Omaha from 1912 to 1919.[2]

The Italian Renaissance skyscraper featured exterior decorations of pink granite and terracotta. It included a motor operated revolving door opening into a lobby with a 30-foot high ceiling. Six elevators carried tenants to the upper floors.[1] The building was demolished in 1977.[4]

WOW built its current 30-story Woodmen Tower in 1969. It was Omaha's tallest building until the completion of the 45-story First National Bank Tower in 2002.

Demolition of the Woodmen of the World Building. 14th and Farnam Streets. Omaha, Nebraska. 1977

See also

References
  1. "Woodmen of the World Building", The Western Architect, 18 (12): 129, December 1912
  2. "Woodmen of the World Building". emporis.com. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  3. McKee, Jim (July 17, 2010). "Jim McKee: Modern Woodmen helped build Omaha". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  4. "Woodmen of the WorldTower and First National Tower". unl.edu. Retrieved 6 October 2010.


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