Cather After Dark: Mourning, Medicine, and Murder

"The type of writer we have been talking about has a brain like Limbo, full of ghosts, for which he has always tried to find bodies." ~ Willa Cather, in a 1925 interview with Flora Merrill

Due to its subject matter, this tour is for guests age 21 and older. 

Have you ever wondered what inspired some of the most morbid and disturbing moments in Cather's fiction? Are you curious about 19th century funeral practices and medical treatments? Do you want to know more about the true crime experiences of past Red Cloud residents? Join us for a night of exploring the dark history that animates Cather's work! 

Willa Cather's writing is widely praised for its compelling characters and evocative descriptions of the Nebraska prairie they inhabit. Critics characterize her work as beautifully written and keenly aware of the human experience. A dark presence lurks underneath many of these charming stories, however, and this tour will help participants understand how dangerous railroad working conditions, illness, grieving, and murder plots are woven into novels and short stories such as My Ántonia, The Song of the Lark, "The Sculptor's Funeral," and "The Affair at Grover Station," to name a few. 

Guests are invited to book one 75-minute tour to visit the Willa Cather Childhood Home, Burlington Depot, and J.L. Miner House while viewing artifacts from our museum and archival collections connected to mourning practices, workplace injuries, and even Cather's own personal interest in medical devices. The Final Stop, a post-tour reception, will take place at the National Willa Cather Center from 7:15 - 9:15 pm. Registration includes the following:

• A tour ticket
• A special Cather After Dark "zine"
• Admission to The Final Stop, a post-tour reception

We hope you will take part in this unique and mildly unsettling night of fun! Contact visitor services coordinator Nick Powers at npowers@willacather.org to arrange for accessibility accommodations or with questions about this tour.