Omaha MidCentury Modern

The following is an expert from an email between several people discussing the Dewey Park Pavillion. Looks like a recent past keeper to me…

"The recreation building at Dewey Park was apparently designed by an architect who worked with Frank Lloyd Wright.  The city of Omaha has recently been contacted by a William Whitaker, Collections Manager, The Architectural Archives/Kroiz Gallery for the University of Pennsylvania.  He is co-authoring a book on the work of architect Antonin Raymond (1888-1976).  According to Mr. Whitaker, Antonin Raymond was a remarkable architect, who worked with Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1910’s and 20’s and is best known for having traveled to Japan with Wright to supervise the construction of his famous Imperial Hotel.  Raymond stayed on in Japan for many years dramatically impacting the development of modern architecture in that country.

Raymond’s work in the United States is not as well known, but is none the less significant.  He is one of the most important figures after Wright, who introduced a knowledge of Japan’s architecture into the U.S.  He lived and worked in New York City, as well as rural New Hope Pennsylvania between 1938-1950., producing works throughout the U.S.

We have the original drawings for the recreation center at Dewey Park in our files.  Raymond’s firm is listed on the drawings as the consulting architect for the project.  The attached picture is a sketch by Raymond of the proposed building at Dewey Park."