The long-standing partnership between the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society (PPHS) and West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) is coming to an end, marking a major turning point for one of the region’s most important cultural institutions. After 93 years of collaboration, PPHS and WT announced that their relationship will be terminated and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum—closed since March 2025—will not reopen on the WT campus.
Why the Split Is Happening
According to PPHS, the organization “was informed that West Texas A&M University and the Texas A&M University System are unable to provide long-term funding for the building that houses the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.” PPHS trustees received the news on November 18 during a meeting with WT President Walter Wendler.
The Society acknowledged its disappointment, stating, “While the news is disappointing, PPHS and the museum remain committed to serving the people of the Panhandle.”
The funding issue sits at the center of the separation, but long-term facility maintenance and safety have also been major concerns. The museum was abruptly closed in March 2025 after a State Fire Marshal report deemed the building unsafe. The inspection was conducted in mid-January. PPHS board member Mark White said, “It’s not much of a surprise… since you know, some months ago, the museum was shut down without much notice to us, and the building has not been maintained for quite a while.”
WT officials issued the following statement:
In the last year, West Texas A&M University has spent $1,192,174.44—which represents $128.79 per WT student—to maintain Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Without external funding, the University does not have the resources to renovate or build a new museum facility that protects the public’s health, safety and welfare.
The Texas A&M University System issued the following statement:
Upon assuming his role, Chancellor Glenn Hegar has been working tirelessly with the WT leadership, System officials, and state and community partners to find a responsible solution that celebrates our western Texas heritage.Unfortunately, the aging facility presents a significant fire hazard and even while closed, West Texas A&M University and the Texas A&M University System continue to spend more than $1 million each year simply to maintain the unsafe building.Dedicating significant public resources to indefinitely maintain a facility that is unsafe is not responsible stewardship of system and taxpayer resources. Those funds should be used to educate the students of West Texas A&M University and to support the major economic development opportunities WT drives across the entire Panhandle region.We remain committed to work toward an outcome that strengthens the future of the region.
A Complex Partnership
Although PPHS owns the museum’s more than two million artifacts, WT historically provided the physical facility and acted as the fiscal agent for museum employees. White highlighted the historical nature of that agreement, noting, “There is a 1932 contract, a lease agreement, which states that WT must maintain the premises, and it is leased to us in perpetuity.”
This long-term arrangement dates back to the founding of the museum. PPHS raised the funds to establish it, opening the museum in 1933, with major expansions in 1936, 1967, 1973, and 1986. Over the decades, the collection has grown to include major historical artifacts such as a Ford Model A (number 28 off the assembly line), Charles Goodnight’s silver-mounted saddle, and Quanah Parker’s headdress and lance.
What Happens to the Staff and the Collection?
Despite the upheaval, PPHS emphasized that staff positions are secure during the transition. White said, “We have very talented employees and very valued employees. They will stay employed.” He added that the more difficult challenge will be “finding a place to move.”
PPHS says the collection remains protected. “In the meantime,” White said, “the artifacts are absolutely secure.”
Digitization efforts are also ongoing. Earlier in the year, PPHS began expanding its online database, part of a multi-year effort to increase public access to the collection. Board member Jason Boyett previously explained that the digitization project has already been underway for three years. Even with the physical museum closed, staff continued hosting community outreach and educational events throughout 2025.
New Partners and Potential Futures
While the museum’s location is now in question, PPHS says the development has opened new doors. “We have begun positive, high-level conversations with other institutions who have expressed strong interest in supporting PPHS,” the Society said. White echoed this optimism: “There are a number of good prospects… and I know the community would support a lot of those initiatives.”
He also noted that the Society has been approached by potential partners but said it was too early to identify them publicly. What is clear, however, is the goal: “the parties share a commitment to keeping this collection in the Texas Panhandle and available to the public.”
White said PPHS expects to finalize and release a timeline for vacating the WT facility soon.
Legislative Attempts Fell Short
The uncertainty surrounding the museum’s future had already caught the attention of state lawmakers. Earlier this year, Texas Representative John Smithee filed HB 5554, a bill that would have transferred management of the museum to the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The bill outlined responsibilities including preserving the collection, managing the facility, employing staff, and overseeing financial support.
However, the bill did not pass during the 89th Legislature or its special sessions. It died in committee, along with two similar Senate bills.
A Turning Point for a Regional Landmark
For the Panhandle Plains region, the museum has been a cultural anchor for nearly a century. While its future location and partnerships remain uncertain, PPHS leaders are signaling determination and forward momentum. “We always consider that when a door shuts, however other ones open,” White said. “So now we have the freedom to aggressively pursue other partnerships.”
