From about 1921 to 1925 the city of Omaha wintered alligators in Fire Station No. 6, located at 24th & Cuming street. When the weather turned warm the alligators were transferred to Riverside Park, which today is the location of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. On March 22, 1922 an alligator escaped its basement enclosure, mounted the stairs, and chased Captain Charles R. Fleming, and the other seven firefighters, from the firehouse. It was an event of some notoriety, receiving several columns of ink in Omaha newspapers.

In memory of this strange, historical moment, the Omaha Firefighters Historical Society (OFFHS) is sponsoring Captain Fleming’s First Annual 5K Gator Fun Run. The run will be held inside Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, the original home of the alligators!

Race Details:

The race is set to begin at 08:00 CST on March 23, the fourth day of Spring. This date also coincides with the 102nd anniversary of the original Gator Run. The tentative start location is inside the main gate; the race route is approximately two laps of the Zoo's main loop.

Donation & Entry Information:

A $40 participation donation permits one runner access to the race. Additionally, runners will receive a t-shirt, and are permitted to remain inside the Zoo for the balance of the day at no additional cost. Spectators are allowed inside the grounds of the Zoo during the race:

• Spectators with or without an Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium membership may enter the zoo early to watch their loved one- spectator tickets can be purchased directly at the Zoo’s ticket kiosk at the main entrance 1 hour prior (0700) to the start of the race (0800). Kiosks will close at approximately 0830. No spectator tickets will be available for purchase prior to the day of the race. The spectator may remain inside the Zoo for the balance of the day. For any questions regarding spectator entry, pricing, etc please email [email protected].

Organization Information:

Donations from the 5K Gator Fun Run will benefit the Omaha Firefighters Historical Society and the Omaha Fire Union’s Meet the Need program:

The Omaha Firefighters Historical Society (OFFHS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The Omaha Fire Department was founded in 1860. The mission of the OFFHS is to accumulate, safeguard and to make available for public view - the history of the Omaha Fire Department. The OFFHS collects photographs, artifacts, textbooks, postcards, and artifacts. The OFFHS conducts interviews with firefighters, retirees, and personnel adjacent to the fire department. Pursuant to the mission, the OFFHS shares information through the publication, The Pioneer Hook & Ladder Quarterly (PH&L).

The Omaha Fire Union - Meet the Need (OFU-MTN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit program that seeks to address immediate needs within the community. When union firefighters respond to emergencies they are often disheartened to see individuals going without - mothers without formula for their children, kids without Christmas toys or food in their cupboards, families living without heat. For many of these needs union members pass a hat or pull money from their own pockets. The OFU-MTN program creates a pipeline by which these needs can be reported, evaluated, and addressed. Every dollar raised by the program goes towards noticed needs in the community.

Do you want to sponsor the 5K Gator Fun Run?

Automatic Fire Detection: $1 - $99 Donation

• Your name/organization will be listed in the April 2024 Pioneer Hook & Ladder Quarterly

(PH&L), the Society's premier newsletter which highlights the history of the Omaha Fire

Department.

1st Alarm: $100 - $250

• Your name/organization will be listed in the April 2024 PH&L

• A one-year subscription to the PH&L

2nd Alarm: $251 - $999

• Your name/organization will be listed in the April 2024 PH&L

• A one-year subscription to the PH&L

• An OFFHS Challenge Coin