Expand Your Knowledge of Texas History; Visit a Museum!

Looking for a place to visit Wild Texas history up close and personal? How about visiting a museum! Check out True West Magazine’s Four Best Western History and Art Exhibit Museums of the Year in Texas:

1.     Houston Museum of Natural Science

Houston, Texas

Between the displays of dinosaurs and science you’ll also find many troves of history. Among its many unique exhibits are “Texas! The Exhibition” celebrating last year’s 175^th Texas Independence anniversary and J.P. Bryan’s Torch Collection. But that’s not all they have to offer! Last year they opened another additional exhibit titled “Discovering the Civil War” and this year “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition debuted. Don’t forget to check out the Egyptian mummies as well!

2.     National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

Fort Worth, Texas

In 2002, when former Supreme Court Justice, Ms. Sandra Day O’Connor, was inducted into the Hall of Fame, this museum dedicated an entire exhibit to her titled “Sandra Day O’Connor: A 30^th Anniversary Celebration.” However, before then the museum portrayed everything from rhinestone chaps and 40-pound dresses in their “No Glitz, No Glory” exhibit to vintage aprons in their “Apron Chronicles: A Patchwork of American Recollections” display. But this museum isn’t just about glamour; it is also an educational museum that during the 2010-2011 school year taught more than 17,000 students representing nine states and two foreign countries.

3.      Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum

Canyon, Texas

Want to know what you would have looked like as a child growing up in the early 20^th- century? Visit here! From its ranch roots to today’s professional action, last year’s exhibits traced rodeo on the Southern Plains titled “Frocks & Togs: Children’s Clothing from 1900 through the 1950s.” However, this year, after a complete remodeling job, their favorite exhibit is “Pioneer Town.” This new display details life from 1890 to 1910 and shows how, although some daily tasks today are the same as they were then, with technology and tools, how we perform those tasks is strikingly different. This museum also includes a research center and art shows as well as many other features.

4.      Red River Valley Museum

Vernon, Texas

Interested in the Chisholm Trail? Well this is the place for you! From mounted animals including a polar bear to Western art, this jewel is looking to add the Great Western Trail Heritage Center, featuring an interactive scaled replica of nearby Doans Crossing. Along with aspiring to show visitors that the Chisholm Trail wasn’t the only way to get cattle to market, this museum has a lot to offer.

--Paige Bukowski