05/07/2026
THROWBACK THURSDAY: Long before today’s wellness centers, youth sports leagues, and community programs, the Omaha YMCA at 17th & Harney Streets stood as one of the city’s great gathering places.
In the early 1900s, four sculpted “Atlas” figures framed the building’s entrance in dramatic archways—an architectural symbol of strength, growth, and the YMCA’s commitment to building healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
Inside, members found far more than a gym. Bowling leagues filled the lower levels, friendships formed in shared spaces and the dormitories, and generations of Omahans passed through its doors in search of community.
The Omaha YMCA’s roots date back to 1866, when the organization first formed downtown on 12th Street between Farnam and Douglas.
📷: The Durham Museum photo archives/Omaha Nostalgia Project