Nebraska’s Major Cities Looked So Different In The 1940s. North Platte Especially.

Every place changes over the decades, and Nebraska has gone through some extreme changes. Our cities in particular have experienced change in so many ways. Lots of them have gotten smaller as their residents migrated, but some have grown steadily. These photos from the 1940s (and a few from slightly before or after the 1940s) show just what our cities looked like many decades ago.

1. Kearney, 1942

The grand Midway Hotel no longer exists on this corner. Now, you can find the Apple Market there.

2. Grand Island, 1942

The downtown Grand Island skyline doesn't look quite like this anymore, but there are still some recognizable buildings.

3. Hastings, 1942

This photo was taken on 2nd and Lincoln. Oh, how we miss Woolworth's!

4. Lincoln, 1942

A wartime sign in Lincoln urges residents to buy bonds to support the war effort. One Vintage Nebraska reader suggested this might have been taken at 13th and O. Do you agree?

5. Omaha, 1945

Crowds gathered on the streets in 1945 to celebrate the end of World War II. Some of those old buildings look familiar, don't they?

6. North Platte, Possibly in the 1940s or 1950s

This undated photo of North Platte is absolutely fantastic. Look at those gorgeous brick buildings and awesome cars. A lot of readers will remember this view.

7. Alliance, Undated

There's no date on this vintage photo of Alliance, but it looks like it could have been taken anywhere from the 1920s to the 1940s. Do you have any guesses?

8. Bellevue, 1950

Although not taken in the 1940s, this vintage photo of Bellevue sure does show how much Olde Towne has changed.

Of course, in Nebraska our definition of a "major city" differs from other states, but these are some of the cities that now have the largest populations. If you love these city pictures, take a look at these vintage pictures of rural Nebraska farms as well.