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Population 1845. Established in 1854, Tekamah means "big cottonwoods" and is a reminder of the trees that grow along the Missouri River and throughout the community. Located in Burt County, it was the first township to be incorporated into the county.
Tekamah is located 44 miles north of Omaha. It is an ideal location for those who need to have access to the interstate for business or travel.
Tekamah has an abundance of activities and entertainment.
Due to a large job market and easy pace, Tekamah is growing. Farming is one of the largest industries. Currently, Tekamah has over 60 retail businesses and 3 wholesale businesses.
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Tri-County Saddle Club Rodeo: Held each June.
Cowboy actor Everett "Hoot" Gibson was born here in 1892.
Trail Rider Challenge: June 22, July 20, September 20, 2008. 402-374-1685 www.midstatesranchhorses.com
4th of July Celebration Parade at 10am, all day activities & evening fireworks. 402-374-2020. www.tekamahchamberofcommerce.net
Annual Sweet Corn Festival August 8, 2008 - 402-374-2020 www.ci.tekamah.ne.us
Christmas Candlelight Tour, Annual event in November, Burt Co. Museum, beautiful Christmas decorations in 3 buildings, historic bridge & gazebo. 402-374-1505.
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ARCHITECTURE & HISTORICAL
National Register of Historic Places
Stork Log House: Located about five miles east southeast of Tekamah on private property. The one-half story house was constructed of hewn cottonwood logs in 1865 by John Henry Stork who came to Burt County from Prussia in 1864. This example of architecture is significant to Nebraska’s heritage.
H.S.M. Spielman House: A private residence at 1103 J St.
The neo-classical revival and Queen Anne style house was built in 1906 and consists of 14 rooms with beautiful woodworking of bird’s eye maple, oak, beechwood, pine, hard pine and red birch.
Tekamah City Bridge: At the intersection of Highway 75 and Highway 32
Main Street Tekamah passes over Tekamah Creek, in front of the public library.
Built in 1932 for $49,343.01 of Depression era federal relief money. An example of rigid frame construction, Total Length: 51 foot, Roadway Width: 47 foot, 1-Span, Concrete Rigid Frame
BUILT: 1934 by the Koehler Construction Company
Developed in the early 1920s in Westchester County, New York, the concrete rigid frame bridge became popular for federal relief projects during the 1930s. Both picturesque and practical, the flat-arched design appealed to proponents of urban beautification. The Tekamah Bridge represents a formative use of this structural type by the Nebraska Bureau of Roads and Bridges. The bureau designed this 48-foot span in February 1934. As described by the state engineer, "the slab or deck takes the form of a very flat arch with a comparatively thin slab at the crown. This feature promotes economy and, being of a curved arched shape, it naturally lends itself to a beautifying architectural treatment." In March 1934 the bureau contracted with the Koehler Construction Company of Sterling, Nebraska, to build the bridge. The structure's opening later that year was celebrated with a town dance on it. Today, the Tekamah Bridge is distinguished as one of the two oldest examples of this uncommon structural type in the state. It is important for its Depression-era federal relief funding, which not only improved the nation's infrastructure and provided jobs for the legions of unemployed but also, for the first time, allowed the use of federal highway funds for construction in urban areas.
From: United States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration
Burt County Court House: 13th St between M and N Streets - Beaux Arts style building built in 1916-17. It is 65 by 85 feet and four-stories tall. A tile mosaic of the “Great Seal of Nebraska” can be viewed from a two-story well. A mural, marble wainscoting, ceramic tile, ornate plaster details, and wrought iron stair railings can be found inside.
E.C. Houston House: 319 N. 13th St - The Burt County Museum was built in 1904-5 and is an example of neo-classical revival architecture. The 10-room house features a veranda, open staircase, classical columns, etched glass windows, fireplace, and beautiful detailing.
Tekamah Carnegie Public Library: The Tekamah Carnegie Public Library is one of the few Carnegie libraries in northeast Nebraska on the State Register of Historic Places. Library officials plan to seek national historic status. Inclusion in the registers means the state and the federal officials consider the properties as cultural resources worthy of preservation.
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BOWLING
Tiger Bowl, Main Street
EQUESTRIAN & RODEO
Hoot Gibson Memorial Rodeo Arena Hosts Tekamah's Tri-County Saddle Club rodeo each year.
Mid States Ranch Horses, LLC & Authentic Horsemanship hosts to Cowgirl Camp, Horsemanship Clinics, the Trail Rider Challenge and horse shows. The facility also offers lessons and training.
HUNTING & FISHING
Kohler Commercial Hunting: Duck and Goose Hunting along Missouri River / Central Flyway. 820 Q St, Tekamah, NE 68061, 402-374-2747
Pheasant Bonanza Hunt Club & Kennel:
Resort style hunt club, corporate retreats. Year round training & boarding of sporting dogs. 3097 Co Rd “O”, Tekamah, NE 68061, 866-374-1765, www.pheasantbonanza.com
Cedar Hills Range: 1 1/2 miles West on Hwy 32 and 1/2 mile south of Tekamah
Sporting clays, blue rock trap, sight in rifles, and a target range for pistols and rifles, leagues. Open by appointment. 402-374-1254
GOLF
North Ridge Country Club: Private, 402-374-2661, Follow ‘O’ St West through town. The natural terrain is ideal for a golf course. The course has the length and topography to be quite challenging.
MUSEUM
Burt County Museum: On Highway 75, 319 N 13th St - The historic E.C. Houston House was built in 1904. It is a grand home with fourteen rooms, including a third floor ballroom. The grounds also feature a country school, a museum annex, gazebo, beautiful landscaping, a lighted flagpole and the Folsom Park Bridge.
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 1-5pm, Group Tours by appointment
Phone: 402-374-1505, Admission: Free, donations accepted, Estimated time: 1-2 hours
Annual events: Coffee On The Porch, Candlelight Tour -Beautiful Christmas decorations and displays during the holiday season.
PARKS & GARDENS
Mural & Mural Garden: US Highway 75 and NE Highway 32 - The garden celebrates the Bicentennial of the Corps of Discovery and the Sesquicentennial of Tekamah, Nebraska, Burt County, Nebraska, and the Nebraska Territory. The garden features plants Lewis and Clark saw on their journey. The mural garden is a project of the Tekamah Gardening Club. Please visit the gardens at the Tekamah Public Library and the Burt County Museum.
Lewis and the Corps of Discovery documented 178 plants previously unknown east of the Mississippi River. Thomas Jefferson recognized the importance of studying plants: “Botany I rank with the most valuable sciences, whether we consider its subjects as furnishing the principal subsistence of life to man and beast, delicious varieties for our tables, refreshments from our orchards, the adornments of flower boarders, shade and perfume of our groves, materials for our buildings, or medicaments for our bodies.”- Thomas Jefferson
City Park: Over 60 acres of parks. Play ground, park shelters, public pool, tennis court, ball diamonds, rest room, camping, RV dump station
Folsom Park: Features a native rock monument marking the spot of a settlers' camp on October 6, 1854
STATE RECREATION AREA
Pelican Point State Recreation Area 4 miles east, 4 miles North, 1 mile east of Tekamah - On August 8th, Lewis saw feathers of “the breadth of the river” floating down the Missouri. Soon the corps came across hundreds of pelicans. One of the birds was killed and examined; it was reported that its pouch held five gallons of water. This area is now called Pelican Point and is adjacent to the Missouri River on 36 primitive acres.
Activities: Hiking, boat ramp, river access, picnic shelters, grills, fire rings, tables, fishing, 17 primitive camping sites (fee), 17 trailer pads - 40’ limit, fee $6Open year round. 402-374-1727. Admission: State Park Permit required
Summit Lake State Recreation Area: Off of Hwy 32 west of Tekamah - The 535-acre recreation area hosts a 190-acre spring-fed lake which is operated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. It features 42 primitive tent camping spaces ($4 fee), primitive facilities, 27 trailer pads ($6 fee), dump station, picnic shelters, unsupervised swimming, no wake boating, boat ramp, fishing and hiking.
Open year round402/374-1727 www.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks Admission: State Park Permit required.
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MOTEL
Tekamah Motel, 8 rooms, pets allowed, 707 N 13th, 402-374-9954
GAS
Cubby’s Convenience Store, Hwy 75 South, 402-374-2413
Brannif Service, Main Street, 402-374-2660
RESTAURANTS
Keiffer's, 911 S 13th St,
Ronnie’s Bar, Main Street, 402-374-9958
Rumors Grille and Bar, 439 S 13 St, 402-374-1572
Dairy King (seasonal), 501 N 13th St, 402-374-2737
D’Moore Pizza, 1307 K St, 402-374-2060
Right Next Door, 401 S 13th, coffee & desserts
Subway, 405 S 13th ST, 402-808-7827
Tailgaters, 424 S 13th St,
GROCERIES
Save More Market, 334 S 13th St, 402-374-2700
BANK
Washington County Bank, 303 S 13th St, 402-374-2020
First National Bank Northeast, 448 S 13th St, 402-374-1200
ATM
First National Bank Northeast, west side of building, 448 S 13th St
Cubby’s, Hwy 75 South, 402-374-2413
AUTO SERVICES
Glenn’s Alignment, S Hwy 75, 402-374-1459
Scott’s Body Shop, 683 Hwy 75m 402- 374-1123
Napa Parts / Shamburg’s, 1212 J St, 402-374-1133
Brannif Service, 321 S 13th St, 402-374-2660
Sheridan Ford, 123 S 13th St, 402-374-1933
Eckley Service & Marine (boats): 1117 F Street, 402-374-1222
LIBRARY
Tekamah Public Library, 402-374-2453
CHURCHES
Emmanuel Lutheran Church: 210 S. 12th, 402-374-1337, Sunday 9:30 a.m. Worship Service, 10:45 Sunday School
First Baptist Church: 1116 K, 402-374-1388, Sunday 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, 10:45 Worship Service, Nursery
First Presbyterian Church: 1318 K St., 402-374-2228, Sunday 9:15 a.m. Sunday School, 10:30 Worship Service, Nursery
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church: Hwy 32, 402-374-1692, Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m.; (8:30 a.m. during Daylight Saving Time)
Riverside Baptist Church: Rural, North Hwy 75, 402-374-1124, Sunday 9 a.m. Worship Service, 10:15 Sunday School
Trinity Lutheran Church
United Methodist Church: 1408 L St., 402-374-2888, Sunday 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, 10:45 Worship Service, Nursery
MEDICAL
Cottonwood Clinic, 120 South 9th Street, 402-374-1585
Pharmacy: Wragge Pharmacy. 332 S 13th, 402-374-1400
AIRPORT
Tekamah (TQE) Elevation 1027 “ N 41° 45.81' W 96° 10.68'
Phone: 402-374-1755 or 402-374-2505
Includes a modern 75 by 4,000-foot concrete runway, Automated Weather System and VOR. The facility is located two east of Tekamah and includes fuel service, a pilot’s lounge, telephone, and rental cars. Hangar space available.
SHOPPING
Dick’s Western Wear: 324 S 13th St, 402-374-1181
Wragge Pharmacy: 332 S 13th St, 402-374-1400
Slim Profits, 401 S 13th St, 402-374-2620
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ABOUT TEKAMAH
"Tekamah?" people ask. "How do you spell it? What does it mean?"
There are several ideas. Some say it means "Big Cottonwood," others, "Flat Waters," or "Bloody Battle Field." Still others suggest it is the misspelled name of a mountain in California. To people living here, and many who have lived here, the name has a special meaning -- "home."
Nine men, looking for a place to start a settlement, left the river-town of Omaha in October 1854 traveling northerly to find a location that had all the natural resources a settlement needed: good water, an ample supply of trees for wood, rich fertile soil, abundant wild life and sand stone. They marked their claim in the name of the "Nebraska Stock Company."
The name "Tekamah" was drawn from a hat, in which each of the nine men had placed his choice. If they knew what it meant, none of them wrote it down.
On October 15, 1854, all qualified voters were registered. With the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the territory needed to organize. The majority of these men returned on election day to cast their votes. Col. Benjamin R. Folsom was elected councilman, and Gen. Robinson and H. C. Purple were chosen to represent the settlement in the new House of Representatives. Burt County also organized, naming Tekamah as county seat.
In 1855 Tekamah incorporated as a city. As spring arrived, building began in earnest. Cottonwood trees east of town were cut and dragged to building sites, and the whirr of the sawmill could be heard for miles, sand stone was quarried for foundations and town began to take shape.
Soon it was learned that two boys had been killed by Indians near Fontanelle. Col. Folsom sent a message to Territorial Governor Mark Izard asking for help. General J.M. Thayer, in response organized a company from the men in the town, and helped to build a blockhouse, for the protection of the citizens. Indians were observed nearby many times, but no more incidents were recorded.
The blockhouse served as the first courthouse and, when needed, the attic served as a jail. To provide funds to operate the county, a tax was levied in 1855 on a total valuation of $13,000. The seven-mill levy accounted for the collection of $91.04.
A weekly mail route from Omaha to Tekamah was established in 1855. Soon Tekamah had a store, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, and a post office. The first birth and death occurred in 1855. The first newspaper, called the "Burt County Pilot," was printed in 1856. The first school was established in 1857, as well as the "Bank of Tekama," which was one of the famous wildcat banks flourishing in the Midwest before the Civil War. The first church was built by Presbyterians in 1870.
With the arrival of the hearty settlers, who set up shops or engaged in the main industry of agriculture, the town grew and prospered. Several churches, a school, and a number of banks were organized in 1873, known as the "Boom Year." The town continued to flourish as the Chicago & North Western Railroad was completed from Omaha to Tekamah in 1876. The line was discontinued just over 100 years later in 1979.
By the 1880s Tekamah had an active social life. An opera house was built in 1884, where political debates, plays, commencement exercises, revival meetings, dances, and roller skating parties were held. On June 1, 1904, a tornado demolished the building and it was not rebuilt.
Tekamah had a good brickyard for many years. A flourmill and a canning factory, which processed corn and tomatoes, was in operation in 1886. After operating only two years, the factory closed.
The Burt County Old Settlers and Pioneer Reunion was organized in 1903. The following year the reunion was held in Folsom Park, named in honor of one of the town’s founders. Over 3,000 attended. July 4th, 1910, over 10,000 people came to town to see the Tekamah Harness races. A Carnegie library was built in 1912 through the cooperation of citizens and the Tekamah Women's Club. Tekamah reached a peak population of 1,925 in 1940. The population has remained near 1,900 since that time.
A centennial celebration was held in 1954. The citizens of Tekamah have watched the town grow from a tiny outpost on the prairie into the city of today. It has withstood floods and fire, drought and tornados, depressions, periods of inflation and young people marching off to many wars, some never returning. Through it all the town lives on.
Excerpted from material by Bette Stork, 614 North 17 Street, Tekamah, NE 68061, and Bonnie Newell, curator of the Burt County Museum.
Tekamah, the county seat of Burt County, celebrated its 150th (Sesquicentennial) anniversary in 2004!
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