McCook Creative District

Located in the southwest corner of Nebraska, the McCook Creative District is Nebraska’s creative “hotspot.” Regularly the hottest location in the state during Nebraska’s warm summer months, McCook is also the “hot spot” for artists and creatives, as well as residents and visitors alike.

Situated half-way between Denver and Omaha, McCook thrives on its vision and innovation, but especially its tenacity.

Having enraptured listeners for the last 25 years, Buffalo Commons began when east-coast professors proclaimed that the land, which included most of western Nebraska including McCook, should be abandoned and returned to grazing, specifically to the buffalo herds.

McCook residents decided that they were they not going to pack up and move away. Instead, they were going to create a celebration, to emphasize the storytelling which is a vital communication tool for the indigenous people and the settlers who came after, and to highlight the grit and persistence which had helped McCook thrive since its establishment in 1872.

The McCook Creative District encompasses McCook’s historic downtown, with the faint rumble over the original bricks lining the main street. Several locations in this area lay claim to the term “Nebraska’s only,” including the state’s only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, the Sutton House. For the artistic foodies, Sehnert’s Bakery and Bieroc Café is Nebraska’s only James Beard Award-winning restaurant. And Norris Avenue features perhaps the most homes of former political statesmen, from former governor and senator Ben Nelson to Sen. George W. Norris, who is mentioned in John F. Kennedy’s book, “Profiles of Courage.”

The McCook Creative District is home to the community’s flourishing arts and culture scene. The historic Fox Theater regularly hosts live theatrical and musical performances. The Keystone Business Center is home to the Sixth Floor Art Healing Space. And in between those two century-old buildings is McCook’s newest project, Norris Alley which encourages conversation, creativity and collaborating.

The creative district is also home to historical museums, active community organizations, art galleries and the latest addition, the McCook Community Mural, which involved more than 100 community members to come to fruition.

With multiple arts and cultural opportunities located within a walkable historic district, the McCook Creative District is a must-see destination, whether traveling by car, plane or even train to Nebraska’s hotspot.