For nearly four decades, Wilber has carried a title that reflects the community’s deep connection to its Czech heritage: Czech Capital of the U.S.A.
The national title was built upon an earlier recognition.
On July 17, 1963, then-Nebraska Gov. Frank B. Morrison proclaimed Wilber the Czech Capital of Nebraska. According to Nebraska Czechs of Wilber member Sheryl Kastanek, Morrison’s wife was Czech, and he was good friends with Joe Vosoba, one of the founders of the Czech Festival.
The effort to be named the national capital was largely driven by Anna “Annie” Janecek Salda, who believed Wilber deserved national recognition for its Czech roots. After becoming president of the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber in 1986, she wrote letters to United States senators and representatives, outlining why Wilber was worthy of the title.
She encouraged others throughout the area to write letters in support of the proposal, as well.
“When Annie first said, ‘I think we need to work on getting a national title as the capital of the U.S.A,’ I appreciated her spirit and wanting to do it, but I thought it might be a far, far reach,” Kastanek said. “Low and behold, with her push and saying, ‘We’re going to do this,’ it happened.”
Wilber was officially named the Czech Capital of the United States on July 10, 1987.
“It was a joint resolution between the House of Representatives and the Senate, and they voted ‘Yes,’ and Ronald Reagan signed it,” Kastanek said.
The title has helped put Wilber on the map on a national scale, and Kastanek is proud of it.
“Thousands of people come to the festival, and it’s just a little Czech town,” she said. “If you’ve ever gotten to go to the Czech Republic, we just kind of look like you’re in the Czech Republic.”
Wilber Mayor Roger Chrans said the designation is quite an honor, and it comes with a responsibility to continue to represent the title as well as possible.
“It’s a responsibility for us to share that with the rest of Nebraska, the rest of the United States,” he said. “To me, it’s important, but yet it’s fun to be able to have that recognition and have people come here and see us out and say, ‘Well, what are you about?’” It's a neat thing.”
Today, Wilber continues to showcase its culture through the annual Czech Festival, Czech foods, the Czech-Slovak National Pageant, Czech music, Czech dancers, the Wilber Czech Museum, the Dvoracek Memorial Library and more.
Members of the town have a love of Czech culture in their hearts, Chrans said, making it important for them to share that culture with others.
“The thing that I feel is very important, and what I see growing up in a Czech family, is just the traditions, the heritage, and sharing that with others is just kind of ingrained in you,” Chrans said. “To be able to enjoy it with other people and talk about things that you truly love is pretty special to me.”
