The National Willa Cather Center
The National Willa Cather Center
Summer Hours (March 1st through October 31st): Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Winter Hours (November 1st through February 28th/29th): Tuesday through Friday, 9am to 5pm; Saturday 10am to 2pm.
The Cather Childhood Home is presently closed for restoration.
To make tour reservations, please contact director of education & engagement, Rachel Olsen at rolsen@willacather.org.
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: to promote and encourage increased understanding and appreciation of the life, times, settings, and work of Willa Cather. The fully restored building also features 3 apartments and 3 retail bays.
The new National Willa Cather Center gives visitors ample opportunities to delve into Cather's life and work through exploration of an educational exhibit, American Bittersweet: The Life and Writing of Willa Cather. Guests may also visit the archive and study center to discover the Foundation's vast collection of documents and artifacts.
The National Willa Cather Center and many of their historic sites are open for guided tours. From November through February, all of their tour options require advanced booking. Childhood Home, Town, and Prairie tours can be scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. Country tours may be scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. Beginning August 15, 2022, the Willa Cather Childhood Home will be closed for restoration, but you can still book our town, prairie, and country tours!
