As most Omaha residents know, Gene Leahy Mall is getting torn up and undergoing a makeover as part of the Riverfront Revitalization Project. The mall as we know and love it is gone. The trees have been ripped out; dredging has begun and soon tons upon tons of dirt will start leveling the mall up to street level.
Some people are heartbroken at seeing their beloved space changed. I’m optimistic that the new master plan of making the mall a more multi-purpose green space and bringing the city back to the riverfront will be a fantastic upgrade. As the saying goes, “You can’t cook an omelette without breaking some eggs.”
I decided to take a look back at over a decade of photographing couples on the mall. Shortly after moving to Omaha in 1998 the Gene Leahy Mall became one of my downtown go-to spots. The past few years I’ve used it less frequently, but still love the time between Thanksgiving and New Years when Christmas lights transform the space at dusk.
Here’s a far-from-complete chronology of engagement sessions and wedding photos shot at the mall.
