Visitors to Red Cloud are invited to book a stay at the Cather Second Home. Guests may rent the room that was Cather's, or the rooms of her parents and siblings. The entire home may also be rented for family retreats, meetings, and special occasions. The Cather Second Home once provided Cather with a nurturing and encouraging atmosphere in which to work, while Red...

The Childhood Home, the treasure of our restored buildings, contains many family artifacts including furniture, canned goods, prints and artwork, and family photographs and books. Grandma Boak's room is exactly as described in "Old Mrs. Harris." Upstairs, a "story within itself," is young Willa's (and Thea Kronborg's in The Song of the Lark) small attic bedroom; Willa wallpapered...

This building, constructed in 1888 and known as the Garber Bank, was erected by Silas Garber, former Union Army Officer, the founder of Red Cloud (1871), and the fourth governor of Nebraska (1875-1879) who served two terms. Designed in by Lincoln, Nebraska, architects, the Farmers and Merchants Bank retains its Colorado stone façade, its marble steps, and its teller...

In partnership with the Nebraska State Historical Society, the Willa Cather Foundation offers guided educational tours of Willa Cather's childhood home and other historic buildings related to her life and writing throughout the year. Discounts are offered for school students and groups of twelve or more. Group tours should be arranged in advance by contacting Tracy Tucker, Education Director,...

Download a QR code scanner onto your mobile device and explore Red Cloud's past with a local historian. Codes are located on lampposts throughout downtown Red Cloud. 

From the website:

Come join past visitors, including E. G. Marshall, Susan B. Anthony, David McCullough, Debra Winger, Helen Keller, Julie Harris, Father Flanigan, Levar Burton, Rin Tin Tin, Chief...

Built in 1878, the Harling/Miner house is one of the finest historic homes in Red Cloud. Although a more simplified, vernacular interpretation of the Italianate style, the house is the best example of the style in Red Cloud. Willa Cather's first playmate in Red Cloud was Mary Miner. Cather became friends with all of the Miner children, but especially Carrie. She wrote...

“We turned to leave the cave; Antonia and I went up the stairs first, and the children waited. We were standing outside talking, when they all came running up the steps together, big and little, tow heads and gold heads and brown, and flashing little naked legs; a veritable explosion of life out of the dark cave into the sunlight.” — My Ántonia...

The Webster County Courthouse is a "County Citadel" type courthouse with Second Renaissance Revival architecture that was built in 1914. It is one of ten Nebraska courthouses designed by William F. Gernandt. Its design is similar to Gernandt's for the Dawson County Courthouse, which was built during 1913-14. Both are listed on the National Register of...

It was here that Annie Pavelka, the prototype for Ántonia, baptized her baby and later married. The building, erected in 1883 and used until 1903, later became a residential home. Visitors will notice the "poor man's stained glass" windows and the lack of a bell in the belfry. These are important reminders of the economic divisions in Red Cloud. The priest didn't live...

Located in the former Shades West building, Mark Dahle's Art Gallery features work from the artist's personal collection. 

2025 ART EXHIBIT

“What will you remember?” is a year-long exploration of how memory works in the face of ongoing change. 

365 paintings are on display at the gallery. Each day in 2025, one of the paintings will be replaced...