Willa Cather Birthplace - Gore

Willa Cather's birthplace is on Northwestern Pike in Gore, Virginia. The Pulitzer Prize winning author was born here on December 7, 1873, in the home of her grandmother, Rachel E. Boak.  The two story log house was originally built in the early 1800's by Jacob Seibert, Cather's Great Grandfather.  He gave the property to his daughter, Rachel Boak, in 1869.  In 1872 Rachel's daughter, Virginia, married Charles Cather in the house.  Their daughter, Willa, was born here in 1873.  The Cathers spent about a year here before moving to another home in the area, Willow Shade, where they would live until 1883, before finally moving to Red Cloud, Nebraska.  The home has changed hands several times since Boak's day, and has fallen into disrepair in the ensuing years.  Willa Cather's birthplace was placed on the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1976 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.  

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