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Wahoo, Nebraska

Wahoo, Nebraska

In 1869 land speculators John, James, and William Lee, H.Dorsey, E.H.Berna, J.J.Hawthorne, and George Miner, purchased this "likely spot" in the hope of developing a town in one of the richest farming regions in the state.

Originally the village was called "Leesville" for its founders, but was soon renamed "Wauhoo." It is thought that word comes from the name of a bush which grew along nearby creeks and was used by the Otoe for medicinal purposes. The "u" was dropped from the spelling, probably by postal authorities when they approved an office on July 15, 1869. It is the only town in the USA by that name.

Wahoo is home to the Late Show with David Letterman and five famous sons: Howard Hanson, 1944 Pulitzer Prize-winning composer; "Wahoo Sam" Crawford, 1957 Baseball Hall of Fame; George Beadle, 1959 Nobel Prize winner in genetics; Clarence Anderson, world famous artist, and Daryl F. Zanuck, internationally known movie producer and co-founder of 20th Century Fox.

For those who like keeping sports statistics, the Wahoo High School Basketball has a 114 game winning streak as of the 2001 season (3rd in the nation).

Location is why the people originally came to Wahoo, but it is the people from this location that now make Wahoo a great town.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

First Congregational Church

The First Congregational Church was organized at Eldred, 12 miles northeast of Wahoo. Rev. Mr. Giddings was the preacher for both Eldred and Wahoo. The organizational meeting was headed by Rev. J.E. Heaton and took place on May 28, 1871. In 1880, a church was erected on the southeast corner of 5

Wahoo, NE Historic Churches

Mormon-Ox Bow Trail Marker

The Saunders County Historical Society was the recipient of one of two rocks making up the Twin Rocks marker on the Ox-Bow Trail through the generosity of Don Johnson of Ceresco and Christine Nygren of Ashland.

Wahoo, NE Historic Trails

St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church

The first group of Czech settlers to come to the vicinity of Wahoo arrived in August of 1874. These settlers, who were of the Catholic faith, had to travel 15 to 20 miles in order to attend mass. For three years these settlers traveled to Plasi, Fremont or Abie to attend services. Finally in 1877

Wahoo, NE Historic Churches

Saunders County Courthouse

In the early1900s the old courthouse building became inadequate which led to the construction of a new building. In 1903 a vote was held for the issuing of bonds and the construction of a proper kind of building for county purposes. It passed by a vote of 1,967 to 524

Wahoo, NE Historic Courthouses

Saunders County Historical Society Museum

Experience Saunders County history through its complex of seven buildings and caboose on 5 acres of land.

The Main Building completed in 1994 and the newer Anderson-Nelson addition house displays and exhibits about Wahoo'

Wahoo, NE Museums

Things to do near Wahoo, NE

Mahoney SP Activity Center

Indian Cave State Park

Blakes Antique Soda Fountain

Sit back and enjoy a brown cow, green river, or a slab of Grandmas Homemade Fudge. Blakes Soda Fountain has all of the old f...

Oregon Trail Marker

Kehlbeck Farmstead - NHR