The Red River Valley Museum is located at 4600 College Drive, in the city of Vernon, county of Wilbarger, in the

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Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

Museum History

The museum was established in 1965 and later moved to the grounds of

Vernon College Vernon College is a public community college in Vernon, Texas. History The two-year Vernon Regional Junior College welcomed its first student body of 608 in 1972, and had a Board of Trustees of seven members. In 1970, the Wilbarger County vote ...

. It includes multiple exhibits and exhibit rooms, and sponsors the National Juried Art Show. In the Berry History and Science Room, visitors will find exhibits that depict local history all the way back to the age of the dinosaurs, and includes an indigenous tribal artifact collection donated by Mr. and Mrs. J. Henry Ray. The

Jack Teagarden Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905 – January 15, 1964) was an American jazz trombonist and singer. According to critic Scott Yannow of Allmusic, Teagarden was the preeminent American jazz trombone player before the bebop era of the 19 ...

Exhibit features his personal effects donated by his family after his 1964 death. Photographs and memorabilia of other locally born celebrities such as

Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...

can also be found in this room. The museum collection also contains a large number of the works of sculptor

Electra Waggoner Biggs Electra Waggoner Biggs (November 8, 1912 – April 23, 2001) was a Texas-born heiress, socialite and sculptor, widely known as owner of the Waggoner Ranch in Texas as well as her sculptures of Will Rogers, Dwight Eisenhower, Harry Truman, Bob ...

. The Early History of Vernon, Texas exhibit includes the history of the oil industry in Wilbarger County. The William A. Bond Trophy and Game Room features mounted exotic game collected by the local hunter and rancher.

Mission

To preserve, protect and present the history and exhibits entrusted to the Red River Valley Museum in an interesting and entertaining manner.

Exhibits

The Berry Gallery of History & Science

Step back in time to the age of the dinosaur when you enter The Berry Room which houses select portions of the J. Henry and Ethel Ray Artifacts Collection. This vast collection of fossils and native artifacts was uncovered in over twenty-five years of exploring Wilbarger County and the Red River Valley area. The rich and colorful history of Wilbarger County can be traced over 10,000 years ago as evidenced by the artifacts found in this collection. Continuing through the Berry Room will lead you through the course of Wilbarger County’s history. Learn about Quanah Parker, the Doan’s family and the annual Doan’s Picnic, the Great Western Cattle Drive, and so much more! The county’s more modern history is recounted in this exhibit as well. The primary source of income for Wilbarger today is agriculture and oil related products, Wright Brand Foods which is now a Tyson Plant, Solvay – a plant which produces items from guar, Vernon Regional Junior College, and a State Hospital.

The Bond Gallery

Lions, tigers, bears and more await visitors to this incredible animal collection! This one of a kind collection features animals ranging from the tiny Dik Dik, an antelope that populates the savannahs of eastern Africa, to the mighty Polar Bear that inhabits the frigid Arctic Circle. Learn about these animals and their native habitats as you explore the gallery. This collection of animals from around the world was donated by William “Bill” Bond, a successful rancher who was instrumental in the establishment of the Red River Valley Museum. Newly remodeled in the fall of 2020, The Bond Gallery teaches visitors the importance of conservation. Discover facts about all 130+ animals in this collection and learn how smart human impact can help endangered animals regrow their population!

The Waggoner Gallery

When W.T. Waggoner was just a lad, he and his father set about on an adventure that would end with a ranching empire of well over 500,000 acres of Texas land, covering parts of six counties. The Waggoner Ranch would come to be known as the largest ranch in the United States under one fence at 530,000 acres. Learn about the history of the ranching industry in Wilbarger County, the Waggoner Ranch, and what it means to be a Cowboy while exploring the Waggoner Gallery.

Hours, admission

Wheelchair accessible. Gift shop onsite. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, donations accepted as well Hours: Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Closed New Year's Day, Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving and Christmas

References

External links

Red River Valley Museum
- official site {{DEFAULTSORT:Red River Valley Museum Art museums and galleries in Texas Museums in Wilbarger County, Texas Museums established in 1965 1965 establishments in Texas History museums in Texas