One of the most popular streetscape features in South Omaha is the Tree of Life located on the southeast corner of L Street and South 24th Street. 

With respect to the Tree and the meaning or symbolism to the medallions, in brief, there are seven images that repeat at different sizes.  The images represent themes which are cross-cultural and shared in the design motifs found in artwork and architecture of the four ethnicities (Czech, Polish, Croation, and Mexican) historically associated with South Omaha.  Drawings of the medallions are located here: Medallions.pdf.  The symbols on the seven medallions are as follows:

1. Bird (Peacock): symbolic of longevity, time, and/or infinity.  This version is a mirrored image from a Polish motif.
2. Pottery: every culture uses pottery.  This symbol has a very simple “Hispano/Moresque” influence to the shape, but it represents all cultures.
3. Leaves: the natural world and part of all trees.  It also relates to the leaves in the patterns of the light poles which line South 24th Steet.
4. Apple: depicted in all “Trees of Life.”  The Forbidden Fruit, Garden of Eden, temptation, etc.
5. Stylized “sun” face: based on perforated or cut-paper (papel picado) Mexican design.  This cut paper pattern is representative of the “sun” and all people.  As the sculptor Bob Arneson once said, “Faces are all we have.  We like to see ourselves.”   
6. Bird (Peacock): symbolic of longevity, time, and/or infinity.  This version is a profile with an art deco plume. 
7. Yin/Yang Face: positive/negative or male and female.  People are frequently shown in “Trees of Life,” especially in Mexican versions.  Typically the people are Adam and Eve, but in this case they are symbolic of people in general.

A map showing the location of the Tree of Life medallions is located here: Medallion_map.pdf.