Fifth in a series on the Texas Triangles

(Co-Authored by Mark Bivins and Walter V. Wendler).

 Museums are important to all regions of our state, both densely and sparsely populated. They record our past, couple it to our present and, in so doing, create a trajectory for our future. There are 55 museums in the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle, but only two are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).

Texas has many important museums, and their contributions become more important to the nation as the influence of the state increases. AAM first accredited the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (PPHM) in 1982 (one of the first 100 museums in the U.S. to be accredited). The most recent reaccreditation of the PPHM was in 2023. There are over 35,000 museums in the United States, but only 1,113 are accredited. The Texas Historical Commission, chaired by John Nau, who has visited the PPHM, reports there are some 1,000 museums in Texas, but only 50 of those are accredited via AAM accreditation, which allows the PPHM to share collections with and receive on-loan collections from other museums certified across the U.S.

The AAM accreditation of the PPHM records the importance of Texas’ impact through our region on producing the food, fuel and fiber that feeds, powers and sustains our state and nation. Museums are important as repositories of cultural heritage, technological advancements and artistic creations, which contribute to developing new ideas and innovations through collaboration and exchanging knowledge.

Texas has a rich history found on the west side of the state through indigenous cultures, Spanish colonization, the Texas Revolution, the Civil War, oil booms and busts as well as agricultural endurance. Museums like the Bullock Texas State History Museum or The Alamo help keep Texas stories alive so people understand how the state became what it is today and why it is key to the nation’s future. Museums are living classrooms through science at the Perot Museum, art at the Blanton Museum and natural history at the Witte Museum, which spark curiosity and ingenuity in kids and adults. Partnering with schools for field trips, hands-on learning and programs is especially important for the PPHM because West Texas is a museum desert. One could argue that the most important audience of visitors to the PPHM is schoolchildren.

The hundreds of museums in cities like Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin bring millions of visitors to see and experience these cultural institutions. The Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin is focused on preserving history and state identity and tells the big story of Texas, from its indigenous roots to independence and beyond. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas is education and STEM Inspiration, with hands-on everything: dinosaur digs, earthquake simulators and robotics labs. Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin is a hub for Latino art and culture in downtown Austin. The Space Center Houston addresses the key role that Texas plays in STEM, national identity and tourism: It is the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The Holocaust Museum Houston shares the power and importance of human rights and offers moving exhibits on the Holocaust and other genocides, emphasizing human dignity. These are just a few examples that help place Texas and its people in the center of the human experience.

The George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, on the campus of Texas A&M University, focuses on the political and presidential history tied to Texas. The George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas and the LBJ Presidential Library on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin share the impact of Texans on our nation. All three presidential museums are in the state’s mega metropolitan region.

Museums mean jobs, revenue and more attention to the local community. Texans are proud of their roots, and museums help connect people to their past through exhibits about local music scenes, ranching culture and space exploration. The Space Center in Houston and the PPHM in Canyon add value to understanding who Texans are and Texas’ role in shaping the future.

Most accredited museums in Texas are in the east metropolitan areas, and some counties have as many as five accredited museums. In contrast, only 14% of the Texas-accredited museums are located on the west side of Texas; there is no accredited children’s museum in West Texas, highlighting again the important role of the PPHM.

It should not be overlooked, or its value underestimated, that the PPHM is located on the West Texas A&M University campus, where the largest history museum in the state began. Established in 1933 on the WT campus, the PPHM houses over two million artifacts chronicling the rich history and culture of the Texas West and Panhandle regions.

Attention and resources are committed to every museum, and these institutions compose a constellation of facilities and insights that preserve the past and plot our aspirations for the future of all Texans.

Walter V. Wendler is the President of West Texas A&M University. His weekly columns, with hyperlinks, are available at https://walterwendler.com/.

Mark Bivins is the Chair of the Cultural Foundation of the Texas Panhandle, a fourth-generation rancher, a partner in Corsino Cattle Company and a board member of several councils and foundations in the community. He is dedicated to ranching, parks and wildlife, and history; his passions preserve nature’s beauty while ensuring a thriving future for generations to come.