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Red Cloud, Nebraska

The Willa Cather Foundation proudly hosts town and country tours where visitors can view the childhood home of Willa Cather as well as experience other historic buildings related to her life and writing.

Town tours are available daily and country tours are available by appointment. Visitors can choose between a 3-building town tour (lasting about 45 minutes) and a 7-building town tour (lasting about 90 minutes). The country tour highlights 21 historic sites and covers approximately 60 miles of the surrounding countryside.

Visitors may schedule a guided tour of the country sites by contacting the Willa Cather Foundation, or purchase a detailed map for a self-guided experience. Virtual tours are available online.

Tours leave from the Cather Bookstore, located in the historic Red Cloud Opera House in downtown Red Cloud. Please call for more information or to schedule a guided country tour.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Burlington Depot

Built in 1897, the main section of Red Cloud's Burlington Depot contained sleeping quarters on the 2

Red Cloud, NE Railroad History

Willa Cather's Childhood Home

World Famous author, Willa Sibert Cather (1873-1947), moved with her family from Virginia to the Red Cloud area in 1883. Nebraska became what Cather later described as "the happiness and the curse of my life". The state'

Red Cloud, NE Famous Homes

The Auld Public Library

The Auld Public Library, 1917-1918, is a gift of William Thomas Auld, uncle of Jessica Cather Auld's husband, J. W. (Bill) Auld. Jessica was one of Willa's younger sisters. He gave the city of Red Cloud $20,000 in early April, 1917. On April 9

Red Cloud, NE Historic Buildings

The Red Cloud Opera House

The Red Cloud Opera House, 1885, stood for many years as the jewel in Main Street's crown. Here Blind Boone played, William Jennings Bryan spoke, and it was from this stage that Willa Cather graduated in 1890 and delivered her eloquent oration, "Superstition vs. Investigation"

Red Cloud, NE Historic Buildings

Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial

The Art Gallery and Bookstore, located two doors south of the Cather Historical Center on main street, carries the country's most complete selection of Willa Cather's novels, short stories, biographies, and critical works about her.

Red Cloud, NE Memorials

Things to do near Red Cloud, NE

Lake Hayes

Fort O.K. Cannon

Historic Homes Tour

Heritage Hills Golf Course

McCook Army Air Base

McCook Army Air Base, activated April 1, 1943, was one of 11 Army Air Force training bases in Nebraska during World War II. S...