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EspañolKNIGHTS OF AK-SAR-BEN
(Redirected from Knights of Aksarben)
The 'Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben', today called the 'Aksarben Future Trust', is a 501(c)(3) civic and philanthropic organization in Omaha, Nebraska.
The organization was formed in 1895 in an attempt to keep the Nebraska State Fair in Omaha after receiving an ultimatum to provide entertainment "other than saloons, gambling houses and honky tonks." The board's solution was to strike out to secure all the floats used that year in the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. While in New Orleans, they decided to model their organization on the parade's Krewe concept complete with "royalty" and "coronations." According to the organization's web site, Dudley Smith suggested a name for the new organization, and was quoted as saying, "Why not reverse the name of our beloved state, since everything seems to be going backwards these days?"
The name is "Nebraska" spelled in reverse, and with Smith's suggestion, Ak-Sar-Ben was born. While the purpose of the organization was to save the Nebraska State Fair for Omaha, it eventually went to Lincoln.
Among other initiatives the group has pursued was the purchase of the Douglas Street Bridge (the first road bridge across the Missouri River) in hopes of taking its tolls off (the bridge was renamed the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge). From the 1920s through the 1990s, the Knights built and operated a horse racing track and arena complex, also named Ak-Sar-Ben. In 2005, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights of the American Hockey League were named after the Knights, who have a minority ownership stake in the team, but the Knights have since become moved and become the Quad City Flames.
The organization has scholarship programs and administers Nebraska's Century Farm program. It sponsors the Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Livestock Show, River City Roundup and Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation Ball.
★ History of Omaha
★ Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben
The 'Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben', today called the 'Aksarben Future Trust', is a 501(c)(3) civic and philanthropic organization in Omaha, Nebraska.
| Contents |
| History |
| Initiatives |
| See also |
| External links |
History
The organization was formed in 1895 in an attempt to keep the Nebraska State Fair in Omaha after receiving an ultimatum to provide entertainment "other than saloons, gambling houses and honky tonks." The board's solution was to strike out to secure all the floats used that year in the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. While in New Orleans, they decided to model their organization on the parade's Krewe concept complete with "royalty" and "coronations." According to the organization's web site, Dudley Smith suggested a name for the new organization, and was quoted as saying, "Why not reverse the name of our beloved state, since everything seems to be going backwards these days?"
The name is "Nebraska" spelled in reverse, and with Smith's suggestion, Ak-Sar-Ben was born. While the purpose of the organization was to save the Nebraska State Fair for Omaha, it eventually went to Lincoln.
Initiatives
Ak-sar-ben Toll Bridge between Iowa and Nebraska in November, 1938.
Among other initiatives the group has pursued was the purchase of the Douglas Street Bridge (the first road bridge across the Missouri River) in hopes of taking its tolls off (the bridge was renamed the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge). From the 1920s through the 1990s, the Knights built and operated a horse racing track and arena complex, also named Ak-Sar-Ben. In 2005, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights of the American Hockey League were named after the Knights, who have a minority ownership stake in the team, but the Knights have since become moved and become the Quad City Flames.
The organization has scholarship programs and administers Nebraska's Century Farm program. It sponsors the Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Livestock Show, River City Roundup and Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation Ball.
See also
★ History of Omaha
External links
★ Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben
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