Panhandle–Plains Historical Museum

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is a regional history museum in Canyon, Texas, that focuses on the culture, ranching, industry and natural history of the Texas Panhandle. It holds extensive collections related to paleontology, ranch life and oil-field history.

Permanent galleries cover ranching and pioneer life, oil and industry, and regional art and artifacts, while dedicated paleontology displays present fossils and interpretive material about the area’s prehistoric past. The museum also mounts rotating exhibitions and educational programs for schools and public audiences.

Established to collect, preserve and interpret the history of the Panhandle region, the museum grew through donations, university affiliation and public support into a prominent regional institution. Its collections and exhibition space expanded over time to include both historical artifacts and natural-history specimens.

The museum is located in Canyon, Texas, on the campus of West Texas A&M University, within driving distance of Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle.

• University Location: Located on the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, providing easy access for university groups and researchers.
• Regional Focus: Recognized as a major museum for the history, archaeology and paleontology of the Texas Panhandle region.

What to See #

• Regional History Galleries: Galleries devoted to regional history, ranching and frontier life that display artifacts, period furnishings and photographs tracing settlement of the Texas Panhandle.
• Paleontology Gallery: Paleontology exhibits that present fossils and reconstructions illustrating the prehistory of the region.
• Special Exhibits: Special exhibition spaces and rotating galleries used for traveling exhibits and educational programs tied to the museum\\'s collections.