Texas, Amarillo - Saturday, October 18, 2014 - Panhandle-Plains History Museum and Big Texan Steak Ranch

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum located on the campus of West Texas A&M University is the largest history museum in Texas with over two million artifacts dedicated to preserving this area’s past.  This museum is easy to find, parking is easy and free although I didn’t see any area for RV parking.  Admission is very reasonable, usually $10, but since we are seniors and the RV park gave us a brochure with a $2 off coupon we got in for $7 each.  It was easy to spend the whole afternoon here.  I didn’t expect to spend that much time here since we just saw the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, I was thinking “how many cowboy museums can be interesting?”  I was wrong, this was worth the trip back to Canyon today.

The lobby is very impressive with some really large murals.

This display includes a likeness or Fred Scott (1864-1953) who was a rancher then he and his wife operated a boarding house for college students.  In 1939 a West Texas State College student used plaster-of-Paris to create molds for a life cast of Scott.  This was so lifelike you just felt like he was going to turn around and say “howdy”.

This cable tool drilling rig from around 1925 was the type used in the Panhandle as late as 1935.  A 3000 foot well could be completed in 60-90 days.  The standard rig like this one had a 20 square foot floor and an 87 foot high derrick.

Check out the size of the wrench in this picture.

We thought the oil pan under this truck made it particularly realistic.

The American windmill was born in Connecticut in 1854 – not in the West.  A self-governing windmill automatically turns to face the wind when it changes direction and this controls its speed to prevent self-destruction during high winds.

The Original Star Windmill was second only to the Eclipse windmills in the Southern Great Plains.  Made by the Flint & Walling Manufacturing Company in Kendallville, IN from 1878 to 1915, they were sold in sizes from 10 to 26 feet in diameter.  The 10 ft. size here sold for $90 in 1887.

This 22 ½ foot Railroad Eclipse windmill was erected in 1916 on the Stewart Ranch in Sutton County, Texas.  These gigantic mills were designed to elevate water from unusually deep wells or to provide water in large volumes.

This 1910 Zimmerman Touring Car was manufactured in Auburn, IN.  Zimmerman produced cars only from 1907 to 1915.  After the owner of this car died his son would tow it to the top of a hill and then ride it down, sometimes into trees and bushes so the wooden fenders and front end were demolished.  A photo of how it looked in its prime is behind it.

Toys our kids played with are in a museum – must mean we are getting old J.  Do you remember the Happy Hopper, Chatter Telephone and Queen Buzzy Bee?

The display on Palo Duro Canyon was very interesting.

Some of the fossils and skeletons on display had signs indicating that they were contributed by students of West Texas A&M University.  We took this to indicate that WTAMU may have an archeology program.

My favorite was the life-sized Pioneer Town.  The lighting here was kind of dark, but maybe that was to give it a little more realism.  Several of the displays had sound effects that made you think people were just in the background.  I didn’t count the number of buildings displayed but I think everything needed in a small town was represented including several cabins.

The hotel

Sam Wood cabin built in 1887.  This cabin housed 6 families during an Indian massacre.

The church

Schoolhouse

Bank.  There was a museum security guard sitting in a small booth across from the bank.  I was so into this old town that when he moved, it scared the daylights out of me.

Like I said, everything a small town needed is here.

This picture isn’t very good but I had to include it.  The scenes behind the windows in this kitchen made it look like snow was blowing outside and sound effects made it sound like howling winds and snow were just outside.

This model threshing equipment was very well done.

I can’t imagine feeding a hungry crew of oilfield workers or cowboys from this wagon.  Outside the wagon several replicas of food were on display.  One was a special stew made after a calf was butchered that included the tongue, brain, stomach, intestines, etc. plus “a little meat” that was then simmered for hours until tender.  I’m glad that isn’t on the menu anywhere now.

There were many more displays I didn’t write about, but I touched the highlights of the ones that really impressed me.

When we checked in they told us that there was a free limousine service that would come out from the Big Texan Steak Ranch to pick us up for dinner whenever we wanted.  We decided to take advantage of it this evening.  Sure enough, we called and 20 minutes later a cowboy is knocking on our door.  We made one more stop at a local hotel to pick up one other guy.

Lots of big decoration outside the restaurant.

The Big Texan Steak Ranch is where the free 72 oz. steak originated.  If you can eat a 72 oz. (4 ½ lb.) steak plus a shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad and roll in one hour you get it free.  Our driver said that recently a 120 lb. woman set the record of eating all of that in 4 ½ minutes, then she put down another one all in 15 minutes.  That’s going to be a long-standing record I would think.  We found out as we were eating that the guy we picked up at the hotel was going to give it a try.  He is from Perth, Australia.

Along with the restaurant there is a motel next door.

And a horse hotel behind.

There is a huge gift shop on site with a live rattlesnake in the back.

The sweet shop offers 40 different kinds of fudge.  We brought home one small square to share later on.

The dining room seats 500 people.  Our driver said that in the busy season they go through 14 head of cattle a day.

The margaritas were large and strong.  We had to be sure not to touch the glass where the jalapeño had been.  These huge jalapenos come as decoration on everything.

The rib appetizer was wonderful, falling off the bone tender.  However, I got that last rib on the right (under the jalapeno) and the left side of my lips went numb from the effects of the jalapeno.

I had the char-broiled salmon for my entrée, it was honestly the best salmon I have ever had.  Greg had the 12-oz. rib eye and was very happy with it.

Greg said when we went out to catch a limo back home he wanted one with horns on the front.  When we came out there it was, horns and all.  I tried to get a picture but it turned out blurry – margarita effect J