The National Ranching Heritage Center, a museum of ranching history, is located in Lubbock, on the campus of Texas Tech University. It features almost fifty authentic ranch buildings dateing from the late 1700s to the mid 1900s. These structurs include a railroad depot, homesteads, barn, schoolhouse, windmills and other historic structures.

One views the exhibits through a self-guided walking tour. It is free to the public.

The center was a part of theMuseum of Texas Tech University until 1999. It was begun by the first director of the museum, the historian and archaeologist William Curry Holden.

From 1977-1980, Jim Humphreys, who managed the Pitchfork Ranch in Dickens and King counties from 1965-1986, was the board chairman of the center. He is considered one of the major modern figures in Texas ranching and agriculture.

The heritage center has also received donations from Montie Ritchie, the manager of the JA Ranch southeast of Amarillo from 1935 until his retirement in 1993.

Pending exhibit

The home of Daniel Webster "80 John" Wallace is currently under restoration at the NRHC and shall be open to the public in mid-2009.

Gallery

File:Barton House in Lubbock, TX IMG 0052.JPG|The Barton House in Queen Anne architecture was relocated to the Heritage Center from Hale County. It is named for Joseph J. Barton.Image:1800s Texas House.JPG|Restored Texan pioneer houseImage:Red barn at National Ranching Heritage Center, Lubbock, TX IMG_0054.JPG|Red barnImage:Depot at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG_0249.JPG|Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad depotImage:Schoolhouse at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG_0252.JPG|One-room Bairfield Schoolhouse used in Donley and Armstrong counties until 1937Image:Mail station at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG_0255.JPG|Pioneer mail stationImage:Windmill at Naational Ranching Heritage Center IMG_0250.JPG|WindmillImage:Water cart at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG_0059.JPG|A cart for transporting water from a windmillImage: Harrell House at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG_0049.JPG|Harrell HouseImage:Pioneer kitchen at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG_0251.JPG|Pioneer kitchen in Harrell HouseImage:Ranch office building at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG 0056.JPG|A ranch office building at the Heritage CenterImage:Interior of ranch office at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG_0055.JPG|Inside of ranch officeImage:Los Corralitos Building at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG_0062.JPG|The Los Corralitos (meaning "Little Corrals") Building was relocated to the Heritage Center from Zapata County in South TexasImage:Replica of Cannon Saddle Shop at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG 0246.JPG|Replica of Tooter Cannon Saddle Shop at Heritage CenterImage:Quanah Parker exhibit at National Ranching Heritage Center IMG_0245.JPG|Quanah Parker exhibitImage:Ranching Hours.JPG|Ranching Center hours

References

1. http://books.google.com/books?id=BVYLrXGCJYIC&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=Southwestern+Exposition+and+Livestock+Show+%2B+James+Humphreys&source=web&ots=W9QHOu4MdX&sig=-J36g-eryERCn8ecSQJp8ZcWopk&hl=en
2. Montie Ritchie
3. http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ranchhc/HistoricalPark.htm

See also

• American Wind Power Center

External links

• The National Ranching Heritage Center official site
• Information on the National Ranching Heritage Center