Event Archives

On Friday, March 6, at 4:00 pm, Peter Cipkowski, literary historian at UCLA and President of the Board of Governors of the National Willa Cather Center, visits the Coffee House to speak about legendary author Willa Cather.

Delve into the life and work of an important Willa Cather scholar with the return of our virtual author series! Brad Bigelow will share passages from his new book, Virginia Faulkner: A Life in Two Acts, a biography that chronicles Virginia Faulkner’s career as a promising writer once compared to Dorothy Parker, who eventually returns to her hometown of Lincoln and becomes an editor who is free to nurture what author Timothy Schaffert calls “mad devotion to Willa Cather.” 

Nebraska historian Bill Hayes discusses the issue of slavery in the U.S. during the 1850s and the controversy surrounding the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and how the issue affected people moving to the Nebraska Territory. The presentation describes the overall history of the Underground Railroad and how the movement became connected with the Great Plains. Hayes explores how the Underground Railroad formed in Nebraska and emphasizes specific sites where escaping enslaved persons most likely found refuge on their journey north to freedom.

Usher in the 2026 season with indie folk and pop musician Cornelia Murr! You won’t want to miss this distinct and special performance as we kick off a year-long celebration of American music.

They left during the middle of the night—often knowing only that moss grows on the north side of trees. An estimated 100,000 enslaved people chose to embark on a journey in search of freedom between 1830 and the end of the Civil War in 1865. They moved in constant fear of being killed or recaptured, returned, and beaten as an example of what would happen to others who might choose to run. Under the cover of darkness, “fugitives” traveled roughly twenty miles each night, traversing rugged terrain while enduring all the hardships that Mother Nature could bring to bear.

Regional artists Rick Houchin and David Lovekin offer bright and evocative imagery in a new exhibit on view at Hotel Garber.

Join us this holiday season to discover the Victorian Christmas traditions Willa Cather and her Red Cloud community observed during this festive time of year.

Join us this holiday season to discover the Victorian Christmas traditions Willa Cather and her Red Cloud community observed during this festive time of year.

Join us this holiday season to discover the Victorian Christmas traditions Willa Cather and her Red Cloud community observed during this festive time of year.

Celebrate the holiday season with Elvis not once but twice! Joseph Hall returns as the King of Rock and Roll to bring nostalgic holiday classics to the opera house stage. Be sure to reserve your tickets for a jolly night out with family, friends or colleagues. It'll be a Blue Christmas without you!

This show is generously sponsored by Campbell Connection, Maudlin Motor Company, Gary and Bev Meyer, Red and Pam Meyer, Ridgeline Exteriors LLC, and Van Beber Properties LLC.