Citizens meet to discuss future of Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon

On Saturday, January 10, more than 30 concerned citizens from across the region gathered at the Palace Coffee shop meeting room in Canyon to discuss strategies for preserving the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (PPHM). The gathering reflected a strong shared desire to keep the museum in its longtime home, though opinions varied on how best to achieve that goal.

The meeting was organized by Tessa Weston, who posted an online call for participation, and initially led by her. She later turned the discussion over to Claudia Stravato, a part-time instructor at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) and former deputy comptroller and chief of staff to the lieutenant governor of Texas. The session grew lively, with participants eager to present their ideas, sometimes talking over one another, making it difficult to follow the conversation at times. Weston, who acknowledged she had little experience as a political activist, expressed her concern for the museum despite not being familiar with formal advocacy protocols.

The discussion focused on the closure of PPHM in March 2025, which followed a report by the state fire marshal citing over 100 fire and safety code violations. WTAMU President Dr. Walter Wendler confirmed the report’s findings. Since then, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society has been relatively quiet regarding the situation, leaving the community to explore options to prevent relocation.

The meeting followed a January 6 City of Canyon Commission session where Wendler, State Representative John Smithee, residents, and others discussed the museum’s future. Citizens from Canyon, Amarillo, and surrounding areas expressed strong connections to the museum, recalling visits to view dioramas, dinosaur fossils, cowboy and Native American artifacts, and exhibits on local history and geology. For many, the museum is considered a cornerstone of regional heritage.

While participants agreed on the importance of keeping the museum in Canyon, ideas about how to achieve this varied. Laura Owens, project director of the American Quarter Horse Foundation in Amarillo, highlighted the museum’s value for archaeologists, genealogists, and geologists. She shared an advocacy plan, timeline, and possible charter for the group’s consideration, emphasizing the need for transparency and action before other plans took hold without public awareness. Owens also suggested renovating the historic Randall County Courthouse as a potential research center, noting that while the building’s historic designation limits interior changes, it could be used to house archived documents.

Jason Holloway, who previously worked for an independent inspection firm, noted that he had observed numerous safety infractions in WTAMU buildings, echoing those in the fire marshal’s report on PPHM. He said reporting them was largely ineffective because the buildings were state property.

The group, calling itself Save Our Museum, stressed the importance of participation in an upcoming rally at the museum’s parking lot on Saturday, January 17, at noon. Rally organizer Lisa Jackson emphasized that the event aims to demonstrate broad community support for keeping the museum in Canyon.

Participants also raised questions about the museum’s operations, including artifact insurance, handling of fossils and human remains, potential social media outreach, and local involvement from members of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society. During one discussion about going viral on TikTok, Stravato cautioned that legal guidance was necessary to address responsibilities properly.

Some attendees expressed hope after seeing media coverage suggesting the society was adhering to Wendler’s timeline. Many agreed that the old library section of the museum, which contains asbestos and some structural issues, is less critical than preserving the collections.

Weston concluded the meeting by emphasizing collaboration. “The whole point of this is to take all our abilities and talents and work toward a common goal,” she said. “I know we have what it takes to get to where we want to be. I know we have the ammunition, we have the facts, we have the passion, the heart, and we can get where we need to be with this. I’d love to see people come up with ideas and everyone take different ideas and work with it.”

The group plans to reconvene after the January 17 rally to continue exploring fundraising options and other strategies to maintain the museum in Canyon.