Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-29
MANY PRESIDENTS
HAVE VISITED CITY
Wilson's Coming at Carnival
Time Recalls Crowd Which
/. Greeted Mckinley Here.
AT THE GREAT EXPOSITION
By A. r. GROH.

With a past and future (get that
and future?") vice president here
this week and the present president
OF the United States in our midst next
week, it is interesting to note that
Omaha has entertained many presi-
dents.
The roster of our distinguished
guests includes Presidents U. S.
Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, Grover
Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, Will.
lam Mckinley. Theodore Roosevelt,
William Fl. Taft and now President
Wilson.
U. s. Grant was the first president
to visit Omaha. He came Novem-
Der |, 1875, accompanied by Mrs.
Grant and great staff OF generals
and colonies. An artillery salute was
fired as his train rolled into the sta
ton and the Twenty-third infantry
band was on hand
The party was escorted TO the high
school grounds, where the children OF
the city schools were given an oppor-
tunity to gaze upon the president.
There was reception in the Gus
toms house building, dinner at the
Grand Central hotel and the party
proceeded westward in the evening.
General Grant visited here again,
November ). 1879, enroute home from
his trip around the world. On this
occasion he attended church at the
First Methodist church, small
frame building near Seventeenth and
Davenport streets.
President Hayes, accompanied by
Mrs. Hayes and their two sons, came
to Omaha September 8, 1880. They
were welcomed in Council Bluffs by
delegation of Omaha citizens.
Among other places, they visited the
high school and, at the suggestion OF
Mrs. Hayes climbed up the tower to
get view of the city and surrounding
country.
President and Mrs. Cleveland spent
a few hours in Omaha October u,
1887. For this event triumphal arch
had been erected at Sixteenth and
Farnam streets. A detachmen, OF SOL
diers from Fort Omaha and several
bands added color and gaiety to the
occasion.
President Harrison Next.
President Harrisc. was here May
Is, 1891, accompanied by Mrs. Harri.
son. John Wanamaker, then post
master general, was among those with
them.
The engine Of the presidential train
was profusely decorated with flags
and bunting and cheering thousands
were at the station to meet it.
The party proceeded in carriages
to Seventeenth and Farnam, where
a big platform had been erected. A
salute of twenty-one guns was fired
by a battery stationed on south
Twelfth street as the procession
started from the station.
After the speaking the party en-
tered The Bee building, where a re-
ception was held in the rotunda. This
was probably the first time that a
reception was ever held
in newspaper building.
Since the time of Harrison presi-
Dental visits have become the rule
because of the growing importance
Of Omaha.
President Mckinley was here twice
during political campaigns. But his
most notable visit was made during
the Trans Mississippi exposition.
1t is recorded that 100000 people
thronged the city on that occasion.
It was October Il, 1893. He delivered
an address, at the exposition grounds.
The days admissions were 98,470, be-
ing nearly twice as great as any pre-
,ious day. Edward Rosewater headed
the committee that received the presi-
dent and he was entertained at the
Omaha club.
Omaha will have to go some" If
its reception to President Wilson
equals those in honor of his prede-
:cssors in the great office.