Amarillo, Texas, often known for its cowboy culture and Route 66 heritage, is also home to a diverse array of museums that showcase the city’s rich history and culture. These museums not only provide valuable insights into the past but also contribute significantly to the cultural identity of the city.
Museums in Amarillo, Texas, offer a captivating glimpse into the city’s multifaceted identity. These institutions are not only repositories of historical treasures but also platforms for learning, exploration, and cultural enrichment. They celebrate Amarillo’s rich past, diverse cultures, and spirit of innovation.
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They attract tourists, stimulate educational growth, and foster a sense of pride among residents. These cultural institutions play a vital role in preserving the past while enriching the present and future of Amarillo, Texas.
In this article, we will dive into the fascinating world of museums in Amarillo, Texas, highlighting their unique contributions to the city’s identity and the broader Texan cultural landscape.
Amarillo Museum of Art
The Amarillo Museum of Art is a beautiful free art museum with a large collection sculptures and paintings.
The permanent collection mostly has Asian art but the museum also features various rotating exhibits.
The museum building has striking architecture while the outdoor sculpture garden has many unique and cool pieces by talented artists.
It is an excellent experience for any art lover and even offers an art studio for the kids.
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum
The American Quarter Horse Association Museum and Memorial Complex is one of a kind museum that showcases one of America’s most loved breeds, the American Quarter horse.
It has extensive exhibits about the horse industry in Texas, including displays on ranching, rearing, training, riding, as well as horse racing that have made Texas famous around the world.
Additionally, the museum has a large collection of artifacts and memorabilia from some of the most famous horses in Quarter Horse history.
The museum also features displays about today’s working cowboys.
With interactive exhibits and a theater that shows a documentary about Quarter Horses this museum is perfect for children and adults alike.
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Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Amarillo, Texas is one of the largest history museums in the state.
It focuses on the history of West Texas and has a variety of exhibits and displays which explore the history of the region.
Visitors can see animal mounts, panoramas and dioramas, paintings, photographs, artifacts, maps, coins as well as currency through the ages.
There are pieces from Texas’ earliest inhabitants to the modern day.
The museum also features changing exhibits like dinosaur fossils which are popular with the children.
Love museums? Read our post on Best Museums in Texas including art museums, history museums, and dinosaur museums.
Don Harrington Discovery Center and Space Theater
The Don Harrington Discovery Center and Space Theater in Amarillo, Texas is one of the best things for children to do in the area.
It offers a variety of interactive and hands-on exhibits such as earthquake stimulation, live raptors, skeletons, and space exploration documentaries.
This fun and engaging museum is a great place to bring kids of all ages. It not only fosters scientific curiosity but also promotes a love for learning.
Route 66 Historic District
Route 66, a historic highway that passes through Amarillo, has its own museum dedicated to preserving the nostalgia and charm of the Mother Road. The Route 66 Historic District not only houses the museum but also offers a glimpse into the city’s past with its vintage signs, restaurants, and shops, making it a must-visit for travelers along this iconic route.
Texas Air & Space Museum
The Texas Air and Space Museum in Amarillo, Texas is one of the largest museums of its kind in America with several aircrafts on display.
It is located near the Amarillo airport and popular with locals, Amarillo visitors, and Route 66 road trippers alike.
The museum has a variety of different exhibits and displays that explore the history of flight.
Visitors can see models of civilian airplanes, fighter and bomber planes used in the World Wars, and also space artifacts from all over the world.
Kids love climbing inside the aircrafts as they learn about aviation and aerospace.
This museum in Amarillo is a must for all aviation enthusiasts!
Jack Sisemore Traveland RV Museum
The Jack Sisemore Traveland RV Museum in Amarillo, Texas is one of the only museums in the country that specializes solely on RVs.
The museum tells the story of the advent and evolution of RVs and is filled with historical exhibits as well as displays.
This museum is home to a large collection of well-preserved vintage RV models, such as the world’s oldest Airstream from the 1930s.
Their collection ranges from vintage campers and luxury fifth wheel motorhomes to Harley Davidson bikes.
Amarillo Historical Museum
The Amarillo Historical Museum is a small museum dedicated to the history of this former railroad town.
This is great to browse through for a short time while you are in Amarillo.
Update: The museum is currently closed.
Amarillo Railroad Museum
The Amarillo Railroad Museum is an exciting place for railroad enthusiasts and hobbyists.
The museum consists of a combination of rolling stock, artifacts, and also memorabilia from the past.
Visitors to the museum are able to go back in time as they explore the history of railroads that shaped Amarillo’s past.
The museum also features a cross-section of railroad related items such as signs, lanterns, switches, and passenger cars.
Helium Time Columns Monument
The Helium Time Columns Monument is a modern monument located in Amarillo, Texas that celebrates the centennial of the discovery of helium gas.
The monument pays homage to the town’s history as the “Helium Capital of the World” for its vast helium deposits.
At the center, you will find model of helium molecule.
This monument also serves as a small museum and has several informative displays and time capsules about the discovery of helium as well as its uses.
It’s a great place to learn about this rare element.
Bill’s Backyard Classics in Amarillo, TX
Bill’s Backyard Classics is a large vintage car museum located on Interstate 40 just before you enter town.
The incredible collection features classic cars from the 1950s and 60s such as 1969 Camaro and 1961 Pontiacs.
This hidden gem is a must visit for car enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates the beauty and craftsmanship of American Classic Cars.
Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian
Amarillo’s cultural tapestry is incomplete without acknowledging the Native American heritage that deeply influenced the region. The Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian serves as a tribute to the area’s indigenous cultures, with exhibits that showcase their art, history, and traditions.
The museum galleries features several items from Texas Indians and bands like the Apache, Comanche, Hualapai, and Chiricahua. On a trip, visitors gain insight into the rich and diverse Native American heritage of the Texas Panhandle.
Palo Duro Canyon Visitor Center & Museum
If you are planning to visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Amarillo, then you must keep time for the Palo Duro Canyon Visitor Center and Museum.
This small museum has excellent exhibits and displays about geology of the canyon, fossils of prehistoric beasts that once lived here, artifacts of original settlers, and more.
One of the best things about this small museum is the interactive displays that give you a peek into what life was like during different time periods in the canyon.
Harrington Historic Home
The Harrington House is a historic home in Amarillo, Texas that was built in 1914 by cattlemen John and Pat Landergin.
Don Harrington, pioneers in Amarillo’s oil and gas boom, and his wife Sybil acquired, preserved, and enhanced the beautiful building.
The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features a striking design with Neoclassical influences.
It is one of the city’s few remaining grand homes from the time period.
Harrington House is made from solid oak wood, has high ceilings, and beautiful woodwork inside.
Visitors can take a tour of this 18-room mansion to see its architectural details, period furnishings, and the collection of paintings and porcelains.
The tours are free, by appointment only, and take about an hour.
Amarillo College Natural History Museum
The Amarillo College Natural History Museum is a small, free museum in the campus.
The museum has a good collection of insect, mammals, and birds specimens.
It’s good to spend an hour or so with the kids while in Amarillo.
Update: The museum is currently closed.
Texas Pharmacy Museum
The Texas Pharmacy Museum tells the story of how the profession came to be and how it evolved through time.
This unique museum is full of curios and interesting facts!
The museum features historic images of Western medicine shops and pharmacies with fixtures such as scales and apothecary jars used in the 19th century.
Visitors can peer into these windows from the past and get a glimpse of what life was like during that era for practitioners, pharmacists, and patients.
Catholic Diocese of Amarillo Museum
The Diocese of Amarillo is a Catholic church in Amarillo, Texas has a small appointment only Diocese museum on site.
Visitors can see a variety of diocesan letters, documents, artifacts, photographs, as well as relics about the church’s history.
Whether you’re interested in art, history or science, the city has a museum for you.
The museums in Amarillo, Texas offer an educational experience to the visitors and are a great place to take the kids.
So what are you waiting for?
Purchase your tickets and start exploring Amarillo’s museums today!
Nearby Attractions:
Cadillac Ranch Visitor Guide
Things to do in Palo Duro Canyon State Park