Several people recommended the National Ranching Heritage Center to us, and it has a whopping 4.8-star rating on google. Since Doug was working, what else was I gonna do on a scorching hot August day in Texas, other than walk around outside in the afternoon without shade?
The Center is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it’s “dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history and heritage of ranching in the United States.” There are 55 “authentic ranching structures ranging from the 1780s to 1950s” spread out over 27 acres. The buildings are chronologically arranged to exhibit the evolution of ranch life.
A replica of “Los Corralitos”, c 1780, from Zapata County, Texas. The original was not relocated due to burials beneath its floor! How could that not smell in the Texas summer heat?!?
Inside “Los Corralitos”. The walls of this home are 33 inches thick, the sign said! Note the lack of windows in this single-room dwelling.
There’s also 42 life-size bronze art pieces, in addition to 44,000 square feet of indoor space (hello sweet air conditioning!!), though this was surprisingly devoid of things to see. There were some sculptures, art and exhibits, but it seemed to be mostly empty or event space.
Thanks to the heat, I had the place practically to myself. Having recently listened to some books set on the plains in the days of yore, it was interesting to see some of the old buildings. I would argue it was not 4.8-stars-level of interesting, but maybe I had heat exhaustion.
The cover photo is El Capote Cabin, c 1838, relocated from Guadalupe County, Texas.
I wasn’t expecting to get up close and personal with a great horned owl at the ranch, but I was thrilled to do so. What a beautiful bird!
You can see just how tiny this burrowing owl is. As its name implies, these owls like to take over the burrows of prairie dogs and similar sized mammals.
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I never really thought about what a windmill actually does. It pumps all-important water from the ground into a storage container. This model is from the 1920s or 1930s.
The Jowell House, 1872-3. The previous Jowell family home was a wood cabin burned down by Native Americans. This home, originally in Palo Pinto County, Texas, is designed to make sure that didn’t happen again!
Matador Half-Dugout, 1888. Most rancher “starter homes” were dugouts, built right into the earth. This means they came with bugs, snakes and other critters. This one was originally in Dickens County, Texas.
Bairfield Schoolhouse, c. 1890. This schoolhouse was situated in Donley County before being moved to Armstrong County, Texas, and was in operation until 1937.
Inside the schoolhouse, which often also served as meeting space, social gatherings, entertainment, and religious services.
Trinity Mission, c. 1920s. Originally located on a ranch in Spur, Texas, then in 1949 it was relocated to Hereford, Texas. In 1955 it was moved again, this time to Brownfield, Texas. This church really got around!
Inside the Trinity Mission. Like the schoolhouse, it would also serve at various times as a school and place for social gatherings and meetings.
Barton House, 1909. Ranch life isn’t looking too rough, now! Joseph Barton built this fancy home as the centerpiece for a new town (Bartonsite, naturally) when he believed the Santa Fe railroad would be built through his ranch, but it turned out he was wrong. Hale County, Texas.
Picket and Sotol House, 1904 and 1905. This Crockett County home is built using the sotol plant, which can be seen reaching into the sky to the right of the end of the pictured home. The roof is thatched with sacahuista grass.
An entire herd of longhorn steer sculptures were in front of the museum. They were designed by Terrell O’Brien to “commemorate the historic trail drive era of the 1860s to 1870s.”
Gathering the Yellow House Canyon by Bruce Greene.
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