Street Address
Highway 305 and Main
Lipscomb, TX 79056
Mailing Address
PO Box 5
Lipscomb, TX 79056
phone: 806-852-2123
fax: 806-852-2172
e-mail: wolfcrk@amaonline.com
web: www.wolfcreekheritagemuseum.com
Hours
museum hours
Sundayclosed
Monday - Friday10 AM - 4 PM
Saturdayclosed
Admissions
Free
Museum Type(s)
Art
Staff
Virginia Scott, Director
Dorothy Schoenhals, Manager - grants, cemetery/ranch historical designation; Board Secretary/treasurer
Georgia Couch, Manager - exhibition design
Lovella Theissen, Manager - collection/obituitaries
Kellie Kjos, Manager - Past Perfect data base

Description

Our museum has been described as the best small museum for our population base; run by a group of ladies that enjoy creating history out of their past. We have completed the restoration of an ecilpse windmill for our front lawn and enjoyed working with a group of retired gentlemen in Spearman whose association restores windmills for various groups. We also have a mural in one of our nearby towns that we are seeking grants for its restoration. Every two months we have an exhibit for an area artist of any media, paintings, quilts, photography, woodwork,etc. Also the county students have an annual exhibit. Our main goal at this time is to enlarge our facility with the addition of an adjacent building for equipment , cars,etc. We also need to redesign our archive area with proper storage equipment, etc. Lastly, we are focusing our financial viability through the development of fundraising strategies involving possible endowment fund, memberships, etc. We are a total volunteer staff with one part-time salary. We are located in the top northeast corner of the Texas Panhandle , come see us.

Mission

The purpose of the museum in conjunction with the Lipscomb County Historical Commission is to:

  1. preserve the history of Lipscomb County
  2. operate the museum
  3. conduct educational and scientific activities in relation to the preservation of county history
  4. serve as custodians of assets for the benefit of present and future generations

History

Organized by the Lipscomb County Historical Committee in 1982, a contest was held in 1986 to rename the museum from Lipscomb County museum to the winning name of Wolf Creek Heritage Museum.
We were officially incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit corporation in 1998.
Two rooms of the old Lipscomb School House became the original home for the museum. The Texas Preservation Trust Fund Grant Program contributed $5000 to assist with the remodeling of an L-shaped room in the school building to house the museum collection . Volunteers did much of the remodeling. Another room was used as storage and workroom.
In 1996, the board decided to build a new museum. The goal was $224,000 for an insulated 50 ft x 100 ft metal building with central heat and air conditioning . The building was completed in April, 2000 with Grand opening in Sept. 2000.
Our hours have progressed from one Sunday a month to five days a week. With 6 fulltime volunteers and over 50 angels and 13 board members.
The museum participates in Texas Plains Trail, and local groups. We are members of TAM, and Northwest Texas Museum Association and American Association for State and Local History,and American Association of Museums.

Artifacts Collections

Our emphasis and mission is Lipscomb county so all are artifacts tell the story of the county.
Artifacts include early fossils and indian arrowheads, pottery, etc.
Ranch development as seen through saddles, chaps, furniture, spurs, guns, hats.
Early settlers documents, possessions
Local Paintings that portary early life including the gathering tree, polly station for wagon trains and stage coaches.
Large photographs of every stage of life including the 1947 Tornado. and the dust bowl
Obituitaries cataloged by name and town
Military display from Spanish American War to present.
Large collection of old German song books, bibles

Research Collections

County Newspapers
Obituitaries
Tax Records

Educational Programs

We have at least one musical program a year. This year, The Coleman's, a husband and wife team, will perform a civil war melodrama . Tickets are $10. We will host a book signing for Delbert Trew and John Ericson in June. We also have student demonstration with local artists and historians.

    Governance

    501 (c) (3) ; county

    Library

    Access: General Public

    Appointment required: No

    Publications

    • Lipscomb County History, 1876- 1976
    • Panhandle Interstate - 45 issues of the original Newspaper April 22, 1887- March 16, 1888. Indexed by alphabetical names and topics.
    • Lipscomb Heritage - The Lipscomb County Historical Commission Newsletter from 1988 to 1992
    • Lipscomb County Families of German Descendent
    • Lipscomb County Families of Mexican Descendent
    • Lipscomb County Cementeries
    • The Ultimate Gift : the story of our soldiers who didn't come home.
    • Dinah Might by Dean Terrel - a pilot's WWII story
    • The Box T Ranch by John Doyle.
    • We publish an annual report available upon request, we distribute to our board, commissioners
    • We write a weekly column for seven local newspapers.
    • We update our website at least monthly.