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ummers are for travel, but you don’t have to go far. Just a few minutes outside Amarillo, the vendors at From 6th Collective will astonish you with their creativity. A little further, you can encounter the Old West: horseback rides on the canyon’s edge, the exhibits at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, and the spectacle of the TEXAS Outdoor Musical. Or take a longer drive, heading west to Tucumcari or northeast to Canadian, Texas, and the amazing Citadelle. Amarillo’s central location puts us just an hour or two away from amazing places and equally amazing experiences.
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PanhandlePlains Historical Museum How many years have you been open? In 1921, many of the area’s original settlers were still involved in ranching, farming and business, but were beginning to age. Recognizing this, a history teacher named Hattie Anderson teamed up with L.F. Sheffy, the head of the West Texas State Normal College history department, to preserve the region’s history. They enlisted students and volunteers to collect the human and natural history of the area, from artifacts to audio recordings. They formed the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society, which gave birth to the Museum. Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum opened its doors to the public in 1933. What’s the focus of your business or organization? PPHM is the largest history museum in Texas, and its three million artifacts are dedicated to preserving this region’s past. Founder Hattie Anderson said it best: “It is the sacred duty of ours to collect the record of life here and hand this on to the children of the future, and we believe in the future our people will point with pride to their museum and the historical society.” What’s your most popular attraction? It totally depends on the visitor! Around 40 percent of our visitors are from outside the state of Texas. Many are drawn to our paleontology, geology and archaeology. Others love the vintage fashion or the classic automobiles. Our life-size Pioneer Town and its hands-on exhibits have been a favorite for decades, allowing visitors to engage directly with the story. Our interactive petroleum exhibit is also incredibly popular. Meanwhile, art-lovers can discover the heart of Texas art, the free spirit of the Taos and Santa Fe schools of art, and an unsurpassed Southwest American Indian collection. We truly have something for everyone. What tends to surprise your guests or visitors the most about you? We are a museum dedicated to history, but we are not a museum about just one thing. Our permanent collection includes millions of artifacts and our exhibits change all the time. This year’s special exhibit galleries include Flapper Fashion, Panhandle Prohibition, Rocks of the Ages, and Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas (which is organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City). What specifically does your business or organization add to the culture of this area? The culture has everything to do with our shared history, and that history informs the identity of the Texas Panhandle today. Preserving that history is a way of preserving our culture and identity. How can locals best support your business or organization? If it’s been a while since you’ve visited the Museum, summer is a great time to do so. PPHM is open 7 days a week through Labor Day. You can buy daily admission tickets online and visit Monday to Saturday (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sundays (1 to 5 p.m.). If you visit, share PPHM on social media!
2401 FOURTH AVE. | CANYON, TEXAS 8 0 6 .6 51 . 2 2 4 4 | PA N H A N D L E P L A I N S .O R G
TEXAS Outdoor Musical
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How many years have you been open? This is our 55th season. The TEXAS Outdoor Musical was born in 1960 when Margaret Harper read an article about the playwright and author Paul Green, who had recreated the history of several regions in the nation through drama, pageantry and music. Several Canyon families funded a trip for Green to come learn about the history of the Panhandle. During this trip, he immediately dedicated himself to the project of bringing the history of the High Plains to the stage. Last year, 2020, was the first “dark” year in the musical’s history. The musical is thrilled to be back in 2021. What’s the focus of your business or organization? To share with audiences what we believe to be the most spectacular outdoor musical drama in the nation. In this family-friendly show, we bring to life the stories, struggles and triumphs of the 19th century settlers of the Texas Panhandle. What’s your most popular attraction? The nightly summer production itself. Over the years, literally millions of fans from all over the world have attended our musical. Beyond the singing, dancing and humor, they are treated to spellbinding lighting, special effects and fireworks—all set against the 600-foot cliff backdrop of the canyon walls. The catered Chuck Wagon BBQ dinner before the show is also extremely popular. What tends to surprise your guests or visitors the most about you? Absolutely it’s the canyon itself. Palo Duro Canyon may be the nation’s second-largest canyon, but so many visitors just don’t expect it. They are stunned when they encounter it the first time. Every night our staff hears snippets of conversations from visitors who talk about the natural setting. On the way out from Canyon or Amarillo, they get lulled by the flatness of the Plains until the bottom drops out in a burst of color. We have pretty dramatic special effects, but there’s nothing we can do that compares to the drama of this natural landscape. What specifically does your business or organization add to the culture of this area? We celebrate that culture on a nightly basis. In fact, the Texas Outdoor Musical is produced by the Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation, which is managed by the Cultural Foundation of the Texas Panhandle. Celebrating the history of this region by preserving the stories of our pioneers is the reason this parent organization exists. We want to entertain audiences while also championing the Texas Panhandle and its history. How can locals best support your business or organization? Come to a performance this summer! Even if you’ve seen the outdoor musical in the past, we invite you all to come to TEXAS! Our cast of more than 60 actors, singers and dancers are incredibly talented, and while you’ll enjoy a familiar storyline and familiar songs, every show is slightly different. Tickets are available online at texas-show.com and the production lasts every evening (except Mondays) through Aug. 14.
1 1 4 5 0 S TAT E H W Y. PA R K R O A D 5 CANYON, TEXAS 806.655.2181 | TEXAS-SHOW.COM
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Two hours west of Amarillo on I-40, Tucumcari, New Mexico (pronounced “TWO-come-carry”) is a relaxed, rural community packed with Route 66 nostalgia, old west history, and wide-open vistas. Originally founded as a railroad camp in 1901, the town was incorporated in 1908, and became part of Route 66, also known as the Mother Road, in 1926. Route 66 runs through Tucumcari and is lined with historic motels, classic neon, and unique shops and eateries. Most known for the moniker “Tucumcari Tonite!” there is a wide variety of lodging for people traveling the highway to stop for the night and enjoy comfortable accommodations. Museums and murals draw visitors into Tucumcari. The Mesalands Dinosaur Museum and Natural Science Laboratory features a 40-foot-long skeleton of Tovosaurus (a carnivore relative of Tyrannosaurus rex), many interactive displays, and the world’s largest collection of bronze skeletons and fossils. History buffs will enjoy exploring the Tucumcari Historical Museum, which is located in a 1903 schoolhouse. Each room has themed exhibits filled with artifacts and memorabilia. The displays also fill annex buildings on the property, two of which house a 1926 Chevrolet Fire Truck and an original chuck wagon. The Tucumcari Railroad Museum is located along the tracks in the recently restored, 1926 Spanish-style historic depot. It offers a step back into the history and development of the Union Pacific Railroad in Tucumcari with pictures and artifacts. Visitors can even take a turn at the controls of a GP38 diesel locomotive simulator. Classic car lovers will not be disappointed with a stop at the Route 66 Museum where there are several on display, including a 1929 Ford Model A Sedan and a 1956 Mercury Montclair, along with historic photos and other memorabilia. There are nearly 100 murals in Tucumcari. Most of them are easily sighted and accessed along Tucumcari Boulevard, while others can be found on businesses and buildings throughout town. A mural map is available at the Tucumcari Chamber of Commerce to help visitors explore these unique pieces of art, many of which have a hidden object or message. Come discover our stretch of the historic mother road and experience the small town charm and hospitality of Tucumcari, New Mexico.
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From 6th Collective How many years have you been open? We’re new here! We opened in November 2020. What’s the focus of your business or organization? To spotlight and give I-40 visibility to the regional small businesses and organizations that make Amarillo unique. What’s your most popular attraction? Our monthly events. We bring in additional “PopUp” guests for the day. We’ve had guest chefs, a tintype photographer, a bootmaker, and even a glassblower at our events so far! What tends to surprise your guests or visitors the most about you? As people walk through our doors, they constantly tell us that they don’t feel like they’re in Amarillo anymore (in a good way). They’re surprised to learn that all of the incredible retailers within the shop are local. We purposefully curated the spaces to offer more of an experience. What specifically does your business or organization add to the culture of this area? We’re supporting small businesses in a way that we’ve never seen done before. Owner Kasey Tam was a retailer on Route 66 (hence From 6th) for more than a decade prior to this endeavor and explored all of the typical avenues for small business support. The retail landscape is rapidly changing and no one else is rising to meet those needs. From 6th Collective provides visibility and profits for small businesses while offering our customers a creative place to shop, collaborate and network. How can locals best support your business or organization? Since we offer a wide array of activities, we ask that they head west to join us! Learn more about everything we do on our website, from6thcollective.com.
18100 I-40 WEST 8 0 6 . 3 4 9.1 1 1 1 FROM6THCOLLECTIVE.COM
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Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West How many years have you been open? This is our 11th year in business. What’s the focus of your business or organization? We are a company that provides Texas heritage tourism experiences. We provide horseback riding adventures on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon, and chuckwagon events. What’s your most popular attraction? Horseback riding is our most popular offering. What tends to surprise your guests or visitors the most about you? I moved here from Seattle to take over the Ambassador Hotel, and after many years with that fine operation, I decided to pursue my passion, which was horses, cattle, history and (of course) hospitality. I started my Western tourism business, and have loved every minute of it! Funny how life has so many twists and turns, isn’t it? What specifically does your business or organization add to the culture of this area? We TOTALLY focus on Texas, and the Western history and heritage of the Panhandle. How can locals best support your business or organization? Get to know our business! It is still surprising to people in the local tourism industry when locals say “there’s nothing to do” in Amarillo. I would ask locals to acquaint themselves with our diverse tourism offerings, experience them, and let guests to our area know how many things we have to do in Amarillo!
OWNER PHYLLIS NICKUM GOLDEN
19100 FM1258 | AMARILLO, TX 806.672.9256 COWGIRLSANDCOWBOYSIN THEWEST.COM [ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]
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The Citadelle Art Museum How many years have you been open? Our doors have been open since 2008. What’s the focus of your business or organization? Our mission is to provide a sanctuary for all forms of expression that celebrate life through art by education, outreach and community engagement. What’s your most popular attraction? While we have impressive traveling exhibitions in our gallery, visitors are overwhelmed by the vast variety of art in our permanent collection. We also launched The Citadelle RoadShow in 2016, and have brought art programming to more than 27,000 students across the Texas Panhandle. What tends to surprise your guests or visitors the most about you? Our founders, Dr. Malouf and Therese Abraham, donated their entire home as an art museum to the community of Canadian. Visitors are often amazed to walk in and see their art, photographs and furniture all displayed for viewing. What specifically does your business or organization add to the culture of this area? We are one of three museums within the 26,000-mile radius of the Texas Panhandle that hosts traveling exhibitions from all around the globe. How can locals best support your business or organization? Come visit us and become a member! The Citadelle’s art collection is among the most unique in the country. When you join the museum with a membership, you are helping us spread creativity and art education engagements to thousands of students across the Panhandle.
520 E. NELSON AVE. CANADIAN, TEXAS 806.323.8899 T H EC I TA D E L L E .O RG [ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]