National Ranching Heritage Center

National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, Texas

Sculpture of cattle outside entrance to National Ranching Heritage Center

The National Ranching Heritage Center, a museum of ranching history, is located on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. It features almost fifty authentic ranch buildings dating from the late 18th to the mid-20th century. These structures include a railroad depot, homesteads, barn, schoolhouse, windmills and other historic structures.

One views the exhibits through a self-guided walking tour. It is free to the public.

Until 1999, the center was a part of the Museum of Texas Tech University, to which is adjacently located. It was begun by the first director of the museum, the historian and archaeologist William Curry Holden.

From 1977-1980, Jim Humphreys, who managed the Pitchfork Ranch in Dickens and King counties from 1965–1986, was the board chairman of the center. He is considered one of the major modern figures in Texas ranching and agriculture.^[1]

The heritage center has also received donations from Montie Ritchie, the manager of the JA Ranch southeast of Amarillo from 1935 until his retirement in 1993.^[2]

Newer exhibit

The home of the wealthy African-American rancher, Daniel Webster Wallace (1860-1939), known as "80 John" Wallace, was built ca. 1900 in Loraine in Mitchell County. It is now open at the NRHC.^[3]

Gallery

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  The Barton House, an example of Queen Anne Style architecture, was relocated to the Heritage Center from Hale County. It is named for Joseph J. Barton.

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  U Lazy S Carriage House, owned by John B. Slaughter, was moved from Post to the NRHC.

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  Hedwig's Hill Dogtrot House (1855) is essentially two log cabins under a common roof relocated from Mason County

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  Restored Texan pioneer house

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  The 6666 barn stood near the home of rancher Samuel Burk Burnett in Guthrie until it was removed to the NRHC.

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  The Jowell House (1872-1873) from Palo Pinto County is a fortress style residence, with an outside ladder to the second floor.

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  Because children frequently died young in the American West, the heritage center relocated this Jowell Cemetery (1876-1889) from Palo Pinto County.

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  Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad at the Ropes Depot

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  This half-dugout (1888) in Dickens County was removed from the Matador Ranch to the NRHC.

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  Waggoner Ranch commissary (1870s), relocated to the NRHC from Wichita County

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  One-room Bairfield Schoolhouse used in Donley and Armstrong counties until 1937

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  Box and strip house (1903, 1907), with dual entrances but uninsulated, was relocated to the NRHC from Martin County.

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  Pioneer mail station (1875) relocated from Knox County

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  Starmill windmill at NRHC

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  A cart for transporting water from a well powered by a windmill

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  The Harrell House, named for sisters Fay and Myrtle Harrell of Scurry County, was built in phases between 1885 and 1917.

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  Pioneer kitchen in Harrell House

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  Dining rooom at Harrell House

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  Restored Pitchfork Ranch cookhouse from Dickens County at NRHC

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  A ranch office building at the Heritage Center

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  Inside of ranch office

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  The Los Corralitos (meaning "Little Corrals") Building was relocated to the Heritage Center from Zapata County in South Texas

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  Replica of Tooter Cannon Saddle Shop at Heritage Center

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  Quanah Parker exhibit

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  Ranching Center hours

See also

• American Wind Power Center

References

1. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=BVYLrXGCJYIC&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=Southwestern+Exposition+and+Livestock+Show+%2B+James+Humphreys&source=web&ots=W9QHOu4MdX&sig=-J36g-eryERCn8ecSQJp8ZcWopk&hl=en
2. ^ Montie Ritchie
3. ^ http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ranchhc/HistoricalPark.htm

External links

• The National Ranching Heritage Center official site
• Information on the National Ranching Heritage Center

Coordinates: 33°35′26.68″N 101°53′3.41″W / 33.5907444°N 101.8842806°W / 33.5907444; -101.8842806