Depots in general played a significant role in Willa Cather's writings. The original two-story section of the depot, constructed in 1897, is the building Cather was familiar with during her last years in Red Cloud. Red Cloud was on the main line of the Burlington and Missouri between Kansas City and Denver. At one time, eight passenger trains (and several grain and...

Grace Episcopal was the Cather Family's church beginning in 1922. Two of the beautiful custom painted glass windows, manufactured by the Emil Frei Company of St. Louis, were purchased by Willa Cather in memory of her parents, Charles and Mary Virginia Cather. The communion rail was imported from Spain and was given in memory of her brother Douglass. Grace Episcopal was...

The Starke Round Barn is a historic and engineering marvel. More than one hundred years old, the barn is massive in size but is held together without nails or pegs of any kind. Measuring 130 feet in diameter and three stories in height, the structure is constructed with balloon framing and heavy timber supports. The Starke Brothers, Conrad, Ernest, William  and Chris,...

Completed in 2017, the National Willa Cather Center is a sight to behold. In addition to being the headquarters of the Willa Cather Foundation, the building features a climate-controlled archive, a bookstore, a museum, and conference rooms. The NWCC is a testament to the Willa Cather Foundation’s dedication and a shining example of the organization's mission statement...

Built in 1885, the Red Cloud Opera House transports visitors back in time to set the mood, scene, and tone of the 1890s, when Willa Cather and her friends eagerly anticipated the arrival of traveling productions such as The Bohemian Girl and The Mikado. As Cather herself put it, "Only real people speaking the lines can give us that feeling of living along with them, of...

Housed in a 1909 classic revival style brick mansion, the Webster County Historical Museum is a beautiful landmark and an outstanding resource for learning about the area's rich pioneering and agricultural history. The four floors of the museum bring to life the early settlers of Webster County. It is a treasure trove of information about local families living in the Red Cloud and Guide Rock...

This fully restored and modernized 1886 Queen Anne sits in the neighborhood that Red Cloud native Willa Cather referred to as “Quality Street.” The beautifully refurbished original features of the home are showcased in three lovely sitting rooms,, a dining room, a new kitchen, three beautiful...

Our community is proud to have the 3rd best 9-hole public golf course in Nebraska. Designed by the late PGA Tour Pro Harry Obitz in 1988, the course boasts elevated greens for quick play after a hard rain. It has a driving range and putting green and offers cart rental and a full clubhouse bar. The Red Cloud Golf Course is fun for players of all levels. Open year round...

The Willa Cather Memorial Prairie is a botanical treasure consisting of 612 acres of never-been-plowed native prairie. The Willa Cather Foundation is working to return this land to its 19th century conditions, a time before the encroachment of man and foreign plant species.

The importance of the prairie in shaping America's art, history, and culture has been lost to much of the...

The Red Cloud Community Center features a full kitchen, meeting room, exercise room, gymnasium, and multi-purpose room. The building serves as the perfect venue for many community meetings, sporting events, banquets, and receptions. For rental or membership information, contact the Red Cloud city office at 402-746-2215 or go to the Forms and Permits page to print off...

Auld Public Library was contructed in 1917-18 and serves as an excellent representation of Neo-Classical style architecture. The facility was the result of William T. Auld's generous donation to erect the first permanent library for the community. The Library houses over 10,000 volumes as well as videos, DVD movies, and audio books. Wireless internet access is also...