Lubbock's Ranching Heritage Center Traces
History of Cattle Industry in the Southwest

by: Bobby McDonald

The heart of Lubbock's National Ranching Heritage Center is a 14 acre site where over 30 historic ranch structures have been relocated and restored to their original condition. These buildings show the evolution of ranching from the early trail driver's one room cabin (c. 1838) to a prosperous rancher's stylish Victorian house at the turn of the century (1909). Linecamp, dugout, bunkhouse, blacksmith shop, cowchip house, schoolhouse, corrals, shipping pens, windmills, chuckwagons, coal burning locomotive: these diverse structures depict the development of ranching from the drover, open and closed range, to modern management of the cattle business. Many of the structures originate from famous ranches that played decisive roles in the development of modern ranching such as the Matador, 6666, XIT, and King ranches.

Ranching is part of the history and romance of the American West. Its roots go back to the Spanish vaquero and the eastern herdsmen. Too often, the everyday life on the range and in the ranch house are forgotten. The Center has brought together over 30 structures to revive the life of the bunk house and the line camp -- our ranching heritage.

The buildings of the Center show the evolution of ranch architecture from single room log cabins and line camps to the stylish Queen Anne houses at the turn of the century. The buildings reflect not only the wealth of the owners but also the materials available for construction.

As you tour the Center you will trace the movement of the cattle industry from southern Texas to the open plains of the Llano Estacado. The history begins with the slaughter of the buffalo and the military conquest of the Plains Indians. The invention of barbed wire and introduction of the windmill transformed the cattle industry. The era of the cattle drive and open range grazing was replaced by the closed range and the westward movement of homesteaders. With fences, too, came better range management and improvements in cattle and sheep breeding.

Costumed volunteers, engaged in activities like quilt making, butter churning and branding, bring the structures to life on summer Sunday afternoons and at special events. The Devitt Mallet orientation building features permanent and temporary exhibits on western topics and includes the elegantly furnished McKenna Parlor.

For information about the Center, please call the National Ranching Heritage Center Office at (806)742-0498 or 742-0500, or write the National Ranching Heritage Center, P O Box 43200, Lubbock, Texas 79409-3200.

_____