Saunders County Historical Society

05/30/2026

Family fun day is ready to go! Come on down!

05/25/2026

"All gave some, some gave all.”

The first national observance of what is now known as Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868. It was originally known as Decoration Day, a holiday proclaimed by Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) – a fraternal organization of veterans – to honor Union soldiers who had died in the American Civil War.

The term Memorial Day started being used in 1882 and gained traction in many states. It was traditionally on May 30.

After the world wars, it turned into a day of remembrance for all members of the U.S. military who fought and died in service.

In 1968, the U.S. Congress changed the observance to the last Monday in May, and in 1971, the name was standardized as "Memorial Day.”

05/24/2026

The mighty crew of the USS Wahoo gave all on her last patrol.

🇺🇸 Why Is There a Torpedo in Wahoo, Nebraska?

On the lawn of the Saunders County Courthouse in Wahoo, you’ll find a memorial to the USS Wahoo (SS-238) — a World War II submarine that served in the Pacific.

The USS Wahoo was lost in October 1943, and the memorial honors the submarine and her crew. Even here in landlocked Nebraska, this tribute is a reminder that the service and sacrifice of World War II reached families and communities across the entire country.

Have you ever stopped to see the USS Wahoo memorial at the Saunders County Courthouse?
Do you know of another Nebraska veterans memorial we should feature?

05/20/2026

05/04/2026

Did you know that there’s a connection between Wahoo, Nebraska and a galaxy far, far away? The first Star Wars films were distributed by 20th Century Fox, the studio co-founded by Wahoo native Darryl F. Zanuck!
Happy Star Wars Day!

04/11/2026

Here is a great opportunity this afternoon on our museum campus. Come check out what the Wahoo Area Arts Council has lined up!

Join us this Saturday at the from 1-4pm for our Spring into Poetry event!✨

In addition to our featured authors, we’re excited to welcome students Alaya Wagner and Addyson Bright. Alaya was the 2025 Poetry Out Loud school winner and 2026 runner-up, and Addyson is the 2026 winner. Under the guidance of their instructor, Larry Fangman, both students advanced to the state finals, where they recited three poems and brought their meanings to life through powerful performances.

Be sure to catch their recitations from 2:00-2:30pm. It’s sure to be a highlight of the afternoon!🗣️

04/05/2026

Happy Easter!!! Remember getting new shoes for Easter?

Buster Brown Easter Shoes advertisement. 1958.

03/07/2026

Here’s an interesting article on ice houses, including the once Armour ice house at Memphis.

Before serving as a recreational lake, the lake at Memphis State Recreation Area was manmade for ice, and importantly, served Nebraska's meatpacking industry.

To read more about Nebraska's ice industry: https://history.nebraska.gov/cool-off-with-nebraskas-ice-industry/

📸: Women pose with an ice pole. Behind them, men are harvesting ice for storage, c. 1910. RG3542-95-12