Since 1986, people have been coming from all around the world to Howard Days to celebrate the life and writings of acclaimed author Robert E. Howard. Held at the Robert E. Howard House & Museum in Cross Plains, Texas, it is a two-day gathering of fans, scholars, writers, artists, historians and enthusiasts, all gathered together in fellowship to celebrate and discuss the life, work and legacy of the incomparable American Original, Robert E. Howard.
Howard Days 2025 will take place June 13th and 14th. Project Pride of Cross Plains, a local civic organization and caretakers of the Howard Museum, pulls out all the stops in welcoming Howard Fans. Sponsored by Project Pride and the Robert E. Howard Foundation, with help from the members of the Robert E. Howard United Press Association (REHupa), Howard Days is a two-day extravaganza of tours, panels, auctions, banquets, speeches, signings, readings, dealers, rare Howard collectibles and – most importantly of all – great Howardian fellowship.
For fans of Ol’ Two-Gun Bob Howard, it is a unique get-together, unlike any other fan "convention". In a sense, it's more like a friendly family reunion. All the activities at Howard Days, with one exception, take place at no cost. The Museum is open to all, the tours of the house and grounds are free (as is the parking!) and the adjacent Alla Ray Morris Pavilion is available for all to enjoy a respite from the hot Texas sun while enjoying a cool drink. And now, with ceiling fans installed, the Pavilion is THE place to be during Howard Days!
The only real "fee" for the whole weekend is for the Friday night Celebration Banquet, held at the Cross Plains Community Center. Registration for this is required, as seats are limited at the Banquet, but this money also helps to pay for cool drinks, Friday morning doughnuts, coffee and a Hot Dog Lunch.
Visiting the Museum, all the panels, tours and activities during Howard Days are presented at no cost. You won't find a better deal anywhere! NOTE: As of May24th, the Banquet is Sold Out, but you may put your name on the Wait List at projpride@gmail.com.
The Howard House & Museum is also open to the public on Thursday June 12th from 2 – 4 pm, so you’ll have extra time to enjoy it! Come before 2 and stay as long as you like! The Pavilion is open all day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Come and walk through the streets where Howard dreamed his fantastic adventures, visit the House and gaze upon the exact spot where he wrote them. In 2024, Howard's original writing table was returned to the Museum and you can actually sit at the table where he wrote his wonderful works. View some of the inspiring books he owned which are now on permanent display at the Howard House. Read aloud his poetry from the porch of the house where it was created. Walk in his footsteps around the House and all over the town of Cross Plains. Tour the countryside that Howard called home.
See the original Howard typescripts written in this house, on display at the Cross Plains Public Library, where you can also view many of the original pulp magazines containing Howard stories. Listen to scholars and fans detail the Howard history embedded throughout the house and all around the town - and walk the same ground in the footsteps of REH. Meet and share fellowship with hundreds of Howard fans from all over the world. Browse the Museum’s impressive Howard Gift Shop and win prized items in the annual Silent Auction. The Robert E. Howard Foundation Press is on hand to display and sell their selection of pure Howard text books. A small "dealer's area" is also set up in the yard around the Pavilion for more Howard and related items.
A thirty minute drive south will find you at Howard's final resting place in the Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood. You might want to take a drive even farther south to visit historic Fort McKavett and take your photo in the exact spot Howard once posed.
There is much to do at Robert E. Howard Days while honoring the Legacy of REH.
You can also pick up a Howard Museum brochure, which has now been translated into NINE languages!
SOME LOGISTICAL INFO ABOUT HOWARD DAYS
GETTING TO CROSS PLAINS
Cross Plains is located almost in the exact center of the state of Texas, about a two hour drive west of Dallas, thirty minutes south of I-20, and 35 minutes north of Brownwood. Today's technology makes even a small town like Cross Plains very easy to find!
If you fly in, plan to spend 2-3 hours in your rental car on the highways from Dallas or Austin to Cross Plains. For those of you driving to Howard Days, you can plan your trip accordingly. Hopefully, billions of colorful wildflowers will line the roads as you travel the beautiful Texas countryside.
As for when you should consider coming to and leaving Cross Plains, the majority of folks plan on arriving on the Thursday of Howard Days and then leave for home on Sunday in order to fully experience Howard Days. Some fans arrive earlier (Wednesday - or even Tuesday) and meet at the Pavilion to coordinate early activities. The Museum is open to all on Thursday from 2 - 4 pm but attendees come earlier and stay later, as is this is the unofficial start to Howard Days.
If you do come in early, hang out at the House and Pavilion and meet Howard fans from all over! C’mon and join the group – all Howard fans are welcome, so stop by, introduce yourselves and join in! We’re very friendly - and like-minded - folks! All are welcome to get a head start on the REH Fellowship! You've come to Howard Days, so help by joining in and celebrating our family reunion!
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
With the demise of the 36 West Motel in Cross Plains, attendees now will have to make do with finding a motel at one of the nearby towns, then drive to Cross Plains each morning for the festivities and drive back to their motel in the evening. The drive from nearly all the other towns is about 20-40 minutes one way, and the roads are very straight, scenic and pleasant, especially if those wildflowers are in bloom.
There are several nearby towns that can accommodate Howard fans: Cisco, Coleman, Rising Star, Early and Eastland. These are are smaller towns, much like Cross Plains, and boast only a modest selection of hotels and rooms. Brownwood is a larger community with many hotels, restaurants and other amenities. The closest “big” city is Abilene, which is less than an hour away and has an even larger selection.
Of course, the internet is your friend at times like these, and a search for hotel space or maybe an Air BnB is an easy undertaking.
The following is a partial listing of local hotels.
The Executive Inn (formerly the Enterprise Motel)
(254)442-2100
Cisco
300 East Interstate 20
Best Western
(254)442-3735
Cisco
1898 Highway 206 West 21 miles from Cross Plains.
Holiday Inn Express
(325)641-8085
Brownwood
504 West Commerce Street www.hiexpress.com/brownwood
Best Western
(800) 528-1234
Coleman
1401 Highway 84 Bypass
America’s Best Value (formerly Best Western)
(325)646-3511
Brownwood
410 East Commerce www.americasbestvalueinn.com
Knight’s Inn (formerly Post Oak Inn)
(325)643-5621
Brownwood
606 Early Boulevard 32 miles from Cross Plains.
Gate 1 Inn
(325)643-5463
Brownwood
4410 Highway 377 South 32 miles from Cross Plains.
Days Inn www.daysinnbrownwood.com
(877-500-2600) Brownwood
515 East Commerce 32 miles from Cross Plains.
Lake Brownwood State Park
(512)389-8900
Campsites Available (must make reservations by phone)
Star of Texas Bed & Breakfast
(325)646-4128 www.star-of-texas.com
A deluxe Bed & Breakfast for those who want something special.
Hampton Inn www.hamptoninn.com Brownwood 1-800-Hampton
La Quinta Inn Brownwood (325-641-1713)
La Quinta Inn & Suites Eastland lq6173@laquinta.com
Flagship Inn (325-784-7656) Brownwood www.flagshipinntx.com
GENERAL BITS OF INFORMATION ABOUT REH DAYS
Robert E. Howard Days is a wonderful yearly get-together of fans, scholars and friends, all gathered to celebrate the life and work of Ol’ Two-Gun Bob Howard, a true Texas and American original. It’s an open-air-under-the-Texas-sun informal meeting of folks from all over the world honoring the Legacy of Robert E. Howard with fellowship and friendly conversation - and you can do so on the very ground where he lived and wrote his wonderful works. The Alla Ray Morris Pavilion is adjacent to the Howard House & Museum, where tables and chairs are set up for all attendees to sit and relax in the shade, chat with your new and old Howard Friends, and enjoy water and soft drinks provided by Project Pride. In many ways, Howard Days is like a good ol' family reunion, with food & drink and everyone talking about our cousin Bob Howard!
WHERE TO EAT IN CROSS PLAINS
There are several excellent Texas-style restaurants in Cross Plains that will keep you well fed during your visit. Jean's Feed Barn, Backwoods Grill, Mexico City and Bubba’s BBQ offer great Texas grub! There is also a Subway and Dairy Queen, and a well-stocked grocery store is next to Jean’s Feed Barn. The Cottonwood Coffee Shop has a number of coffee and specialty drinks and sandwiches. Country Donuts and the Backwoods Beer Barn also serve a tasty breakfast menu. Or you would be welcome to enjoy your own picnic lunch in the yard or at the Pavilion.
MONEY MATTERS
Everyone who comes to Howard Days (will hopefully) end up returning home with Howard books, magazines, t-shirts, postcards and all kinds of Howard related souvenirs. There are usually some items exclusive to Howard Days (like the Postal Cancellation, books, post cards, t-shirts and an exclusive Poetry book), so it’s always a good idea to bring some extra cash! You not only have the Gift Shop to contend with, but the Silent Auction at the Banquet and the new Dealer's Area at the Pavilion will provide you with many opportunities for Howard purchases, as well as the REH Foundation Press with it's exclusive selection of REH books. Additionally, there are restaurants and businesses in Cross Plains that are quite happy to see you and exchange your money for great food, a souvenir t-shirt or a pair of real Texas cowboy boots - and there’s nothing like some frosty DQ on a hot Texas afternoon!
Note that the Gift Shop at the Howard House and the Silent Auction at the Banquet do not accept credit or debit cards; they take cash or checks only, so please plan accordingly. ATM’s are available at several locations in town.
SMOKEY THE BEAR SAYS
Additionally, Robert E. Howard’s little town is continually dry in a really bad way: CROSS PLAINS IS FIRE-PRONE. In December of 2005, a horrific fire nearly destroyed the town of Cross Plains, and Texas is perpetually undergoing a drought. PLEASE BE EXTRA CAREFUL WITH LIGHTERS, MATCHES AND ALL SMOKING AND FIRE MATERIALS while visiting in Cross Plains!
THE CROSS PLAINS LIBRARY AND REH
The Cross Plains Public Library has had an impact on the shaping of Robert E. Howard Days ever since the first event in 1986. It is now a place to go for REH research by virtue of the numerous original Howard manuscripts housed there, along with its collection of REH books, magazines and fanzines. You may purchase photocopies of the Howard manuscripts if you like. There are some rare collectibles, including old pulps and obscure fanzines, limited edition books and even original letters from Mrs. Howard in Cross Plains to her son in Brownwood, reminding him to change his socks!
And in February 2013, The Public Library Association (PLA) announced its 2013 award winners and the Cross Plains Public Library is the winner of the EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award, which honors a public library that demonstrates excellence in service to a community of 10,000 people or fewer. Each year one library is chosen for its outstanding efforts to offer rich programming and services for its users through resourceful collaboration and creativity.
2019 found the Cross Plains Public Library celebrating its 40th Anniversary! Be sure to stop in and sign the registry and enjoy one of the best small town libraries in America! And be sure to pick up a souvenir mug!
CROSS PLAINS CHURCHES
Cross Plains is a community in which faith plays a central role, and
any of the churches would be happy to welcome Robert E. Howard fans who
wish to join them in worship. The following list covers primarily
those churches within or just outside the city limits. The Cross
Plains Review each week includes a church directory (from which the
following information was drawn), and of course others may be located
through inquiries.
Cornerstone Bible Church, 832 Ave E
Sunday Morning Bible Study: 10:00 am / Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00
am / Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00 pm / Wednesday Night Bible Study:
6:00 pm
Cross Plains Church of Christ, 433 N Main (254) 725-6117
Sunday Morning Bible Class: 9:45 am / Sunday Morning Worship 10:45 am
Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00 pm / Wednesday Evening Bible Study:
7:00 pm
Cross Plains Cowboy Church, 16075 County Road 459 (254) 725-6446 or
(325) 518-5514
Sunday: 10:30 am / Wednesday Night: 7:00 pm
First Baptist Church, 3rd St NE & N Main (254) 725-7629
Sunday School: 9:30 am / Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 am / Sunday
Evening Worship: 6:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church, 208 N Ave D
Sunday Service: 9:00 am
Cross Plains Methodist Church, 1000 N Main (254) 725-7377
Sunday School: 9:30 am / Sunday Morning Worship 10:45 am
Living Water Ministries Fellowship, 548 Hwy 36 W (254) 725-7418
Sunday: 10:00 am / Wednesday: 7:00 pm
Triple Cross Cowboy Church, 21272 Hwy 279 (just past 279/206 split)
(254) 725-7522 or (325) 370-6680
Sunday: 10:30 am
United Pentecostal Church, 209 SW Hwy 36 (5th St) (254) 725-7140
Sunday School: 9:30 am / Sunday Worship & Word: 6:30 pm / Wednesday
Bible Study: 7:00 pm
GETTING TO CROSS PLAINS
Cross Plains is located almost in the exact center of the state of Texas, about a two hour drive west of Dallas, thirty minutes south of I-20, and 35 minutes north of Brownwood. Today's technology makes even a small town like Cross Plains very easy to find!
If you fly in, plan to spend 2-3 hours in your rental car on the highways from Dallas or Austin to Cross Plains. For those of you driving to Howard Days, you can plan your trip accordingly. Hopefully, billions of colorful wildflowers will line the roads as you travel the beautiful Texas countryside.
As for when you should consider coming to and leaving Cross Plains, the majority of folks plan on arriving on the Thursday of Howard Days and then leave for home on Sunday in order to fully experience Howard Days. Some fans arrive earlier (Wednesday - or even Tuesday) and meet at the Pavilion to coordinate early activities. The Museum is open to all on Thursday from 2 - 4 pm but attendees come earlier and stay later, as is this is the unofficial start to Howard Days.
If you do come in early, hang out at the House and Pavilion and meet Howard fans from all over! C’mon and join the group – all Howard fans are welcome, so stop by, introduce yourselves and join in! We’re very friendly - and like-minded - folks! All are welcome to get a head start on the REH Fellowship! You've come to Howard Days, so help by joining in and celebrating our family reunion!
We also congregate at the Pavilion for late night fellowship on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
HOWARD’S GRAVESITE IN BROWNWOOD
Robert E. Howard’s grave site is at the Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood; there are no organized tours to the cemetery during Robert E. Howard Days, but folks like to caravan to the site sometime during the course of the weekend. Directions to the grave site are available at the Howard House, as are directions to the grave site of Novalyne Price-Ellis, between Brownwood and Bangs.
HOWARD’S GRAVESITE IN BROWNWOOD
Robert E. Howard’s grave site is at the Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood; there are no organized tours to the cemetery during Robert E. Howard Days, but folks like to caravan to the site sometime during the course of the weekend. Directions to the grave site are available at the Howard House, as are directions to the grave site of Novalyne Price-Ellis, between Brownwood and Bangs.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
With the demise of the 36 West Motel in Cross Plains, attendees now will have to make do with finding a motel at one of the nearby towns, then drive to Cross Plains each morning for the festivities and drive back to their motel in the evening. The drive from nearly all the other towns is about 20-40 minutes one way, and the roads are very straight, scenic and pleasant, especially if those wildflowers are in bloom.
There are several nearby towns that can accommodate Howard fans: Cisco, Coleman, Rising Star, Early and Eastland. These are are smaller towns, much like Cross Plains, and boast only a modest selection of hotels and rooms. Brownwood is a larger community with many hotels, restaurants and other amenities. The closest “big” city is Abilene, which is less than an hour away and has an even larger selection.
Of course, the internet is your friend at times like these, and a search for hotel space or maybe an Air BnB is an easy undertaking.
The following is a partial listing of local hotels.
The Executive Inn (formerly the Enterprise Motel)
(254)442-2100
Cisco
300 East Interstate 20
Best Western
(254)442-3735
Cisco
1898 Highway 206 West 21 miles from Cross Plains.
Holiday Inn Express
(325)641-8085
Brownwood
504 West Commerce Street www.hiexpress.com/brownwood
Best Western
(800) 528-1234
Coleman
1401 Highway 84 Bypass
America’s Best Value (formerly Best Western)
(325)646-3511
Brownwood
410 East Commerce www.americasbestvalueinn.com
Knight’s Inn (formerly Post Oak Inn)
(325)643-5621
Brownwood
606 Early Boulevard 32 miles from Cross Plains.
Gate 1 Inn
(325)643-5463
Brownwood
4410 Highway 377 South 32 miles from Cross Plains.
Days Inn www.daysinnbrownwood.com
(877-500-2600) Brownwood
515 East Commerce 32 miles from Cross Plains.
Lake Brownwood State Park
(512)389-8900
Campsites Available (must make reservations by phone)
Star of Texas Bed & Breakfast
(325)646-4128 www.star-of-texas.com
A deluxe Bed & Breakfast for those who want something special.
Hampton Inn www.hamptoninn.com Brownwood 1-800-Hampton
La Quinta Inn Brownwood (325-641-1713)
La Quinta Inn & Suites Eastland lq6173@laquinta.com
Flagship Inn (325-784-7656) Brownwood www.flagshipinntx.com
GENERAL BITS OF INFORMATION ABOUT REH DAYS
Robert E. Howard Days is a wonderful yearly get-together of fans, scholars and friends, all gathered to celebrate the life and work of Ol’ Two-Gun Bob Howard, a true Texas and American original. It’s an open-air-under-the-Texas-sun informal meeting of folks from all over the world honoring the Legacy of Robert E. Howard with fellowship and friendly conversation - and you can do so on the very ground where he lived and wrote his wonderful works. The Alla Ray Morris Pavilion is adjacent to the Howard House & Museum, where tables and chairs are set up for all attendees to sit and relax in the shade, chat with your new and old Howard Friends, and enjoy water and soft drinks provided by Project Pride. In many ways, Howard Days is like a good ol' family reunion, with food & drink and everyone talking about our cousin Bob Howard!
There are several excellent Texas-style restaurants in Cross Plains that will keep you well fed during your visit. Jean's Feed Barn, Backwoods Grill, Mexico City and Bubba’s BBQ offer great Texas grub! There is also a Subway and Dairy Queen, and a well-stocked grocery store is next to Jean’s Feed Barn. The Cottonwood Coffee Shop has a number of coffee and specialty drinks and sandwiches. Country Donuts and the Backwoods Beer Barn also serve a tasty breakfast menu. Or you would be welcome to enjoy your own picnic lunch in the yard or at the Pavilion.
MONEY MATTERS
Everyone who comes to Howard Days (will hopefully) end up returning home with Howard books, magazines, t-shirts, postcards and all kinds of Howard related souvenirs. There are usually some items exclusive to Howard Days (like the Postal Cancellation, books, post cards, t-shirts and an exclusive Poetry book), so it’s always a good idea to bring some extra cash! You not only have the Gift Shop to contend with, but the Silent Auction at the Banquet and the new Dealer's Area at the Pavilion will provide you with many opportunities for Howard purchases, as well as the REH Foundation Press with it's exclusive selection of REH books. Additionally, there are restaurants and businesses in Cross Plains that are quite happy to see you and exchange your money for great food, a souvenir t-shirt or a pair of real Texas cowboy boots - and there’s nothing like some frosty DQ on a hot Texas afternoon!
SMOKEY THE BEAR SAYS
Additionally, Robert E. Howard’s little town is continually dry in a really bad way: CROSS PLAINS IS FIRE-PRONE. In December of 2005, a horrific fire nearly destroyed the town of Cross Plains, and Texas is perpetually undergoing a drought. PLEASE BE EXTRA CAREFUL WITH LIGHTERS, MATCHES AND ALL SMOKING AND FIRE MATERIALS while visiting in Cross Plains!
THE CROSS PLAINS LIBRARY AND REH
The Cross Plains Public Library has had an impact on the shaping of Robert E. Howard Days ever since the first event in 1986. It is now a place to go for REH research by virtue of the numerous original Howard manuscripts housed there, along with its collection of REH books, magazines and fanzines. You may purchase photocopies of the Howard manuscripts if you like. There are some rare collectibles, including old pulps and obscure fanzines, limited edition books and even original letters from Mrs. Howard in Cross Plains to her son in Brownwood, reminding him to change his socks!
The Library expanded into a new annex in 2009, the stacks got bigger and the programs offered all through the year are now more numerous. They were able to do this through the hard work of the people of Cross Plains and generosity of folks all over the world via their gracious donations, and it has paid off. Cross Plains is proud that the Cross Plains Public Library was selected as one of only three finalists in the Library Journal’s 2010 Best Small Library in America Award.
And in February 2013, The Public Library Association (PLA) announced its 2013 award winners and the Cross Plains Public Library is the winner of the EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award, which honors a public library that demonstrates excellence in service to a community of 10,000 people or fewer. Each year one library is chosen for its outstanding efforts to offer rich programming and services for its users through resourceful collaboration and creativity.
2019 found the Cross Plains Public Library celebrating its 40th Anniversary! Be sure to stop in and sign the registry and enjoy one of the best small town libraries in America! And be sure to pick up a souvenir mug!
CROSS PLAINS CHURCHES
Cross Plains is a community in which faith plays a central role, and
any of the churches would be happy to welcome Robert E. Howard fans who
wish to join them in worship. The following list covers primarily
those churches within or just outside the city limits. The Cross
Plains Review each week includes a church directory (from which the
following information was drawn), and of course others may be located
through inquiries.
Cornerstone Bible Church, 832 Ave E
Sunday Morning Bible Study: 10:00 am / Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00
am / Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00 pm / Wednesday Night Bible Study:
6:00 pm
Cross Plains Church of Christ, 433 N Main (254) 725-6117
Sunday Morning Bible Class: 9:45 am / Sunday Morning Worship 10:45 am
Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00 pm / Wednesday Evening Bible Study:
7:00 pm
Cross Plains Cowboy Church, 16075 County Road 459 (254) 725-6446 or
(325) 518-5514
Sunday: 10:30 am / Wednesday Night: 7:00 pm
First Baptist Church, 3rd St NE & N Main (254) 725-7629
Sunday School: 9:30 am / Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 am / Sunday
Evening Worship: 6:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church, 208 N Ave D
Sunday Service: 9:00 am
Cross Plains Methodist Church, 1000 N Main (254) 725-7377
Sunday School: 9:30 am / Sunday Morning Worship 10:45 am
Living Water Ministries Fellowship, 548 Hwy 36 W (254) 725-7418
Sunday: 10:00 am / Wednesday: 7:00 pm
Triple Cross Cowboy Church, 21272 Hwy 279 (just past 279/206 split)
(254) 725-7522 or (325) 370-6680
Sunday: 10:30 am
United Pentecostal Church, 209 SW Hwy 36 (5th St) (254) 725-7140
Sunday School: 9:30 am / Sunday Worship & Word: 6:30 pm / Wednesday
Bible Study: 7:00 pm
