Dedication of the National Willa Cather Center

Please note: Tickets to the Dedication of the National Willa Cather Center are now sold out. If you would like to be put on a waiting list for tickets, please phone our office at 402-746-2653. Any available tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis from our waiting list.

We are delighted to welcome Mrs. Laura Bush as a guest speaker for the National Willa Cather Center's dedication. A former teacher and librarian, Mrs. Bush has dedicated herself to advancing education and promoting the well-being of women and families worldwide. She has advocated for the importance of literacy and education to advance opportunity for America’s young people and foster healthy families and communities. Mrs. Bush founded the National Book Festival to introduce tens of thousands of Americans to their favorite authors each year. She also developed “The White House Salute to American Authors” series to honor some of America’s most significant authors. In her words, "Willa Cather’s literature gives voice to the values that define America’s frontier heritage. By reading her words and promoting her contributions to western culture, we commemorate the pioneering spirit that distinguishes us as a nation."

Following the dedication, we will also unveil our new exhibit, American Bittersweet: The Life and Writing of Willa Cather, and host complimentary tours of the beautifully restored Moon Block, including our state-of-the-art archive and research area, classroom, green room, and apartments. This Nebraska 150 Signature event will conclude with a champagne reception to recognize the hundreds of generous donors who made this project possible.

Ticketed events:

• 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. - Dedication of the National Willa Cather Center and remarks from Mrs. Laura Bush. (Seating is extremely limited. Tickets are reserved for our campaign donors or Spring Conference attendees and are not available à la carte.)
• 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. - Celebratory champagne reception

Free events:

• 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. - Open house and tours of the National Willa Cather Center