The Texas Panhandle and North Texas
The Texas Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle’s culture revolves around its vast plains, rural scenes, and strong winds.
Geological features such as Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Llano Estacado, and the Canadian River provide contrast to the large grazing pastures and agricultural fields. At Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the nation’s second largest canyon, visitors can hike its many trails and watch an outdoor screening of the musical TEXAS in the summer.
Since the region borders New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east, many travelers enter and exit Texas through the Panhandle. Countless road trippers have seen the region through Historic Route 66 and its modern equivalent Interstate 40. Along the route, travelers can expect to see windmills and newer wind turbines as part of the Route 66 Wind energy project.
The Panhandle is sparsely populated – only Lubbock and Amarillo have populations over 25,000 people. Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University and is also the birthplace of 1950s singer/songwriter Buddy Holly. Amarillo’s Polk Street provides an anchor to the city’s downtown district.
North Texas
North Texas combines western heritage with modern amenities.
The arrival of the railroad in the 1870s to the area led to the creation of many cattle-related industries. The population, both human and livestock, boomed. At the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, visitors can experience the ‘Old West’ replete with brick streets lined with historic buildings and storefronts. Visitors can also see the Fort Worth Herd, a twice-daily cattle drive down Exchange Avenue.
Held annually in Dallas, the State Fair of Texas highlights the mantra “every thing is bigger in Texas.” At the fair, visitors can ride the Texas State Ferris Wheel, the largest in North America, or meet Big Tex who greets visitors with open arms. Even sports loom large during the fair. At the Cotton Bowl, the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma face off in the Red River Shootout.
Ennis, south of Dallas, is designated the Official Bluebonnet City of Texas. The town boasts more than 40 miles of trails and an annual festival dedicated to the state’s flower.
Items in this Exhibit
The links shown below to the items displayed in this exhibit will open in PDF format in a separate window or tab.
Lobby, Westbrook Hotel, Fort Worth, 1913. Postcards of Texas from Norman Erickson, 1961/008-127.
City Park Dam, Fort Worth, Texas, 1909. Postcards of Texas from Norman Erickson, 1961/008-133.
Cowboys ready to start, 1907. Postcards of Texas from Norman Erickson, 1961/008-292.
Texas Centennial Celebration Stamps, 1936. Texas Centennial Commission, 4-16/117.
“Buffalo,” undated. R. Niles Graham collection, 1964/306-1258.
Lubbock, Texas July 4, 1902, postmarked 1909. Permian Historical Association Postcards, 1965/054-3.
Main Street, looking east. Dallas Texas, undated. Texas Cities Postcard collection, 1972/011-14.
A field of Blue Bonnets, 1936. Photographic Postcards of Texas, 1976/001-14.
Texas Official Highway Travel Map, 1958. Texas Documents collection, H 1473.7 H537 1958.