The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (PPHM) was the focus of a standing-room-only meeting of the Canyon City Commission Thursday, drawing residents, non-residents, and local leaders to discuss the museum’s future. West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) President Dr. Walter Wendler and Texas Representative John Smithee, District 86, provided updates, followed by public comment.
The discussion comes after a December request by Dr. Wendler for the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society (PPHS) to develop a plan to relocate the museum’s collection. Since then, the City of Canyon has been exploring ways to keep the museum open and in the city.
Community Support and Public Comment
Residents emphasized the museum’s significance to both the city and WTAMU. Many voiced hopes that it would remain in Canyon, highlighting its cultural and educational value.
Several speakers during public comment expressed concern about the care of the collection should the artifacts need to be removed and securely stored during any construction process. A few commenters held papers reading “Save Our Museum,” and many emphasized their desire to keep the Panhandle-Plains Museum in Canyon.
After public comment concluded, Hinders thanked residents for their interest. Commissioner Place 4 Robyn Cranmer said she wanted more information before deciding on a direction so the City could better understand how it fits into a solution. All commissioners voiced support for the museum. Because the item was for discussion only, no action was taken.
Dr. Wendler expressed appreciation for the public’s engagement:
“I was very encouraged by the public comments. What impressed me tonight is to listen to people and their honest, sincere, and heartfelt commitment to how important this museum is.”
He also noted the importance of securing funding to keep the museum operational:
“This museum is a part of Canyon and it’s part of WT, and it should, it’s very important for it to stay here. But we can’t do it without funding streams.”
Dr. Wendler has previously suggested renovations as a possible alternative to relocation, but said even that approach would be limited and costly.
“That wouldn’t be the whole building,” Wendler said. “Even if we had $200 million, we would not renovate 217,000 square feet of space. The museum is too big for our catchment area.”
After the meeting, Wendler said his primary goal Tuesday night was to listen. Some comments reinforced challenges he was already aware of, while others raised new concerns.
“An overriding observation of this group was that this museum is part of Canyon, and it’s part of WT, and it’s very important for it to stay here. And I concur with that. I think it is, but we can’t do it without funding streams to both maintain the building on a regular basis, not catch-as-catch-can, but be able to plan it and maintain it,” Wendler said.
State Funding and Legislative Process
Representative John Smithee outlined the steps needed to pursue state funding for the museum, emphasizing preparation and planning.
“Hopefully, be able to go to the state of Texas to the legislature and get an appropriation. The legislature doesn’t meet until a year from this week. So we have a year, but the appropriation process begins in the summer months, so we need a plan to take to Austin to basically say here’s what we need.”
He further stressed the importance of presenting a strong, justified plan:
“We need a plan in place that we can take to Austin to basically say ‘here’s what we need and here’s why we need it and here’s why it’s justified.’ We need to basically plead our case and we have to have that done and ready to go by this summer.”
Smithee said the City of Canyon could pursue funding through the Texas Legislature, though the state would not be expected to cover the entire cost.
“I think realistically we’re going to require somewhere in the $40 to $50 million range,” Smithee said. “Ideally, if we could raise half of that locally or through foundations or grants and then go to the state for the other half, that’s a workable plan.”
Smithee said legislators are far more likely to consider funding if roughly half of a $40 million to $50 million request has already been raised locally or has firm commitments.
He also provided historical context for how higher education funding in Texas has evolved. Smithee said that more than 30 years ago, smaller colleges such as what was then West Texas State University believed they were being short-changed in special appropriations compared to larger institutions. In response, the legislature shifted how it funded higher education, moving toward a formula based on factors such as enrollment and growth.
“Special-item [appropriations] became pretty much a dinosaur, a thing of the past, and that’s how museums were always funded. And as a result of that, the museums on college campuses, as Dr. Wendler just said, have become very rare. There’s just three left [in Texas], and none that are on the magnitude of the Panhandle-Plains Museum,” Smithee said.
According to both Smithee and a Panhandle-Plains Museum timeline published by WT, the university has requested funding for the museum and for campus-wide fire and safety issues several times over the years. In 2024, WT approached the legislature seeking $240 million to build a new museum. Smithee said the request did not advance because of its cost.
Smithee said the state’s appropriations committees will meet this summer to begin work on the budget the legislature will consider during the 90th session, which begins in 2027. Proposed budgets will be released later this year, and Smithee said it becomes very difficult to secure funding once those proposals are finalized.
“We’ve got to have a definite plan in place and a definite ask to the appropriators. ‘This is what we need, it’s a one-time appropriation. It’s essential to get this museum back open,’” Smithee said.
Rep. Caroline Fairly (R-Amarillo), who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, echoed that sentiment in a statement to High Plains Pundit.
“Despite some of the unproductive rhetoric which sometimes accompanies challenges like this, it is abundantly clear that there is almost unanimous agreement that our communities value the PPHM and would like to preserve it for future generations. Our only chance to succeed is for us to all come together and work hard in a productive way.“I am aware of quiet plans being worked on which are encouraging, and which I hope will be productive. I believe there is an opportunity to save the Panhandle Plains Museum. Challenges like this are hard, but I’m optimistic that every possibility is being exhausted to find our way together,” Fairly said.
Smithee said a long-running debate—dating back to before Wendler’s arrival at WT—over whether the museum should be renovated or relocated slowed progress for years. During that delay, he said, fire and safety violations accumulated.
Even if funding is appropriated or otherwise secured to renovate the museum and reopen it on campus, Smithee said the artifacts would still need to be removed and securely stored during construction.
“And this problem is not going to be resolved by all of us fighting or disagreeing. It’s going to only be resolved, that this problem of trying to keep our museum open and intact, is only going to be resolved if we all work together. And there’s plenty for all of us to do to make that happen. But the thought of closing the museum, of not having a Panhandle-Plains Museum in the Panhandle of Texas, is really unthinkable,” Smithee said in an interview after the meeting.
Safety and Facility Concerns
Safety is a top priority for WTAMU, with attention to fire codes and guidance from the Fire Marshal’s Office. Any plan for the museum’s future will need to address these requirements, ensuring a safe environment for visitors and staff.
Exploring Local Funding Options
City officials discussed potential local funding sources to support the museum, including:
Increasing the hotel/motel occupancy tax
Using economic development funds through the Canyon Economic Development Group
Seeking private donations
Canyon Mayor Gary Hinders emphasized the importance of keeping the museum in the city, noting that hotel-motel tax revenue could potentially help offset some costs. He cautioned, however, that there are significant restrictions on how those funds may be used.
“We have a board of community development here in Canyon that decides where those resources go,” Hinders said. “Those resources are hotel-motel tax dollars. They’re meant to help bring people to Canyon, and there are parameters we have to live with when using them.”
City officials acknowledged that hotel-motel tax revenue alone would not be sufficient to fund construction of a new museum facility.
Hinders also emphasized the city’s role in helping the museum:
“I think it’s time for us to step up and figure out what we can do with some private, and still, hopefully, some state partnership. Really step up and see what we can do to make a difference here too.”
Hinders said time is critical and that it is necessary to determine what steps can be taken to make a difference.
“For the City of Canyon, for the Panhandle, when we go out and list ‘Why you want to come to Canyon, to the Panhandle,’ the Panhandle-Plains Museum’s up in the top five. And so, to lose that, you know, it’s just a tragedy if we’re not able to keep it and keep it here, I think,” Hinders said.
At this stage, all funding strategies remain exploratory, with no decisions finalized.
PPHS Statement and Ongoing Cooperation
The Panhandle-Plains Historical Society responded to comments made during the meeting, noting that some remarks by Dr. Wendler differed from his December letter. The society emphasized continued cooperation with WTAMU under the original 1932 agreement:
“The PPHS Board noted comments made by President Wendler at tonight’s Canyon City Commission meeting that differed in some respects from his December 16 letter requesting relocation of the collection. In that letter, he indicated that it was no longer feasible for WT to maintain the facility and asked that PPHS share in certain monthly maintenance and utility costs. We plan to follow up with his office to better understand these statements. In the meantime, WT and PPHS remain parties to the original 1932 agreement, and PPHS will continue to cooperate with WT as we move forward.”
Future Town Hall and Public Engagement
No formal decisions were made during Tuesday’s meeting. Mayor Hinders announced that the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society plans to hold a town hall meeting next month to gather public input and discuss possible paths forward.
To continue the dialogue, PPHS plans to host a town hall for the community in February. While the official date has not been announced, the meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to:
Ask questions about the museum’s operations
Share input on potential funding solutions
Learn more about the next steps in preserving the museum
City officials have confirmed that this public engagement is a key part of the planning process, ensuring that community voices are heard.
Looking Ahead
The future of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum involves a careful balance of:
Financial sustainability
Facility safety and compliance
Community and state support
While many questions remain, the recent meeting highlighted a shared commitment among WTAMU, the City of Canyon, the PPHS, and state representatives to explore solutions collaboratively.
Key next steps include:
Developing a clear, detailed plan for funding requests to the state legislature
Engaging the community through public forums and town halls
Exploring multiple revenue streams, including local taxes, economic development funds, and private donations
Ensuring safety standards and operational requirements are met
By addressing these factors in a coordinated effort, local leaders and stakeholders aim to ensure that the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum continues to serve as a cultural and historical cornerstone for Canyon and the wider region.
Conclusion
The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is more than a collection of artifacts—it is a symbol of Canyon’s heritage and WTAMU’s educational mission. While challenges around funding, safety, and sustainability remain, officials and the community are actively working together to secure its future.
%20(1).jpg)
%20(1).png)
