This was the real purpose and highlight of this trip: family! The Wahoo folks are always happy to see us, and have a big get-together, and this time was no exception. A big potluck dinner, and many cousins! Mary Jean grew up spending summers here, and played with these cousins, and they are still kicking! CousinsCousinsSt. Winceslaus ChurchSaunders County CourthouseThe USS Wahoo submarine sank 20 Japanese ships in World War II!This memorial park at the courthouse is pretty impressive.Remembering sons of Wahoo who were killed in action in World War II. Saunders County lost quite a few young men!Memorial Day weekend at the Wahoo CemeteryMemorial Day, honoring Wahoo’s veteransBaseball Hall of Famer Sam Crawford was from Wahoo. He teamed with all-time great Ty Cobb in the Detroit Tigers outfield in the early 1900s. He finished his career holding the career record for most triples – 309! This record will likely never be broken. He was known as “Wahoo Sam”!The baseball field here is named for Sam Crawford. Saunders County Museum railroad depot.Depot roomDepot waiting roomSeveral vintage buildings are part of this museum.Outhouse – no running water! Snakes possible! Life in the early days in the 1900s.
Not exactly a tourist stop, but Scheel’s has a lot going on. Outside of the store there are statues of four presidents. Here is George Washington.Thomas Jefferson holding his Declaration of IndependenceAbraham Lincoln holding his Gettysburg AddressRonald ReaganThere is a Ferris Wheel insideOf course, there is much University of Nebraska clothing. They also have clothing for many other colleges across the country here!
The Omaha Herald Newspaper, the only African-American newspaper in Nebraska. Founded in 1938 by Mildred Brown and her husband S. Edward Gilbert.Historic Jewell Building, built in 1923, was home to the Dreamland Ballroom until 1965. It hosted many of the greatest Jazz musicians and entertainers during its heyday. Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Preston Love and Ray Charles played on the stage before the capacity crowds of 500!Pretty impressive basketball courts.Malcolm X was born in Omaha in 1925.
Jurassic Park Jeep outside the museum.The Durham Museum is in the old Omaha Union Station.Inside the station, there are a number of statues in various poses depicting activity at a train station.Down in the lower level, there are antique automobiles and trains. This a 1920 Rauch & Lang Electric Car.1906 Holsman Motor CarModel A Ford (1927-1931)Bekins Van Lines Moving Truck, early 1900s.1932 Douglas TruckUnion Pacific 1243 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler Steam Locomotive and Tinder Car, built 1890.Union Pacific Caboose. Cabooses were phased out in the 1970s by computer technology.Caboose interiorStreetcarStreetcar interiorSouthern Pacific Club Car, built 1949.Club car interior.Cornhusker Club Car, built in 1924 by Pullman. This particular car was used by President Harry Truman in his 1948 presidential campaign “Whistle Stop Tour”. Although he was expected to lose, this Whistle Stop Tour covered over 30,000 miles and stopped in more than 200 towns, helping Truman to a surprise victory in the election. The dining room.General store from the early 1900s. Here is a cash register, meat wrapping paper, and a scale.Refrigerated goods.Meat display case.Canned and dry goods.Early 1860-1900 Worker’s CottageHome furnishings during the years…Health Care in Early OmahaLog cabinSchool roomOmaha tribe tipi.Covered Wagon, 1841-1866.Wells Fargo Mud Wagon, circa 1870Medieval Italian Manuscript dating from 1317. Likely utilized in a Benedictine Monastery. Passed down through families like Trivulzios, Trotti and Hoepli. An 1886 auction brought the manuscript to the midwest.This is pretty cool, a silver Roman danarius coin from Julius Ceasar in 49-48 BC! There is a substantial collection of coins and paper money from a private collection on display.
Gerald R. Ford, our 38th President, is the only president born in Nebraska. He was born July 14, 1913. His birth name was Leslie Lynch King Jr. His father was very abusive to his mother, so she left him and moved to Michigan. When she married Gerald Ford, her son took his name.President Ford is the only president who was not elected, either as President or Vice President. He was named Vice President under President Nixon after Spiro Agnew resigned, then became President when Nixon resigned in 1974.Bust of President Ford.Bust of First Lady Betty Ford.The house in which President Ford was born no longer exists. This is a model of the house.President Ford was perhaps our most athletic president. Here is his presidential golf bag.
