Last updated: 12/28/2011
Panhandle, Texas
Street Address
503 Elsie
Panhandle, TX 79068
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 276
Panhandle, TX 79068

Hours

Monday - Saturday
9 AM - 5 PM
Sunday
1 PM - 5 PM

Admissions

The Square House Museum does not charge admission, but does encourage donations.

Museum Type(s)

Art

Staff

Viola Moore
phone: 806-537-3524
Janie Plumlee
phone: 806-537-3524
Shirlyne Grantham
phone: 806-537-3524
Description

The Carson County Square House Museum is a complex of buildings housing exhibits telling the history of the region from archaic times to the present. Two art galleries exhibit art from regional artists.

Event Rentals

A 1912 union church is available for weddings, funerals, christenings and dedications, or other meetings for a $150/day fee.

The Hazlewood building is also available for daily rental with additional fees for the use of the kitchen and Museum furnishings and supplies

Mission

To afford the community and region the highest level of museum experience; to preserve and protect artifacts with every known and reasonable method; to carefully research them; and to be as accessible as possible to the visiting public.

History

Dedicated in 1967, the Square House has grown from a small, clapboard home to a complex of 16 macro artifacts and buildings. Quality programs taken into the schools and presented to schools, clubs and other organizations further promotes the Museum's mission.

Artifact Collections

The permanent collection of the museum, focusing on the late 19th- to early 20th-century objects from the Texas Panhandle, consists of textiles and clothing, documents and photographs of pioneer life, furniture, wildlife of the area, musical instruments, timepieces, Indian artifacts, and art. Bronze sculptures in the permanent collection include works by nationally known artists such as Grant Speed, Buck McCain, and Jim Thomas. The Square House owns one of the largest collections of Native American art in Texas, including works by artists such as Tsatoke, Mopope, Peña, Begay, Wachetaker, and Roybel. Recently acquired was the entire collection of Chief Wolf Robe. Another outstanding contribution made to the collection was the donation of 259 volumes of rare Texana by L. P. Gilvin for a research library.

The collection of over 21,000 artifacts is catalogued, correctly identified, and conserved with maximum attention to preservation. Air filters, humidifiers, temperature controls, approved lighting, and acid-free boxes and papers are used in the two on-premises storage areas, a large off-premises all-steel warehouse, and space donated by the Santa Fe Railway in the local depot. The staff and director have had special training in conservation and preservation, and the collection is regarded as a public trust to be carefully preserved and displayed.

Research Collections

Over 4,000 photographs, 500 books (most relating to Panhandle area), and documents pertaining to prominent citizens, the county, personal papers, local newspapers, school annuals. Available for research in the museum.

Educational Programs

Outreach trunk and slide programs, adult programs (lecture series, introduction to trunk outreach), tours, Summer Youth Art Program, historical videotapes.

A. Trunks (7), Kiowa Trunk, Ranchero Trunk, Pioneer Trunk, Transportation Trunk, Kiowa Calendar, Art Trunk,Christmas Around the World

B. Slide Shows: Artist s Hand: Five Techniques of Painting (A-31 min), Battle of the Little Big Horn (H-17 min), Buffalos, Eagles and Elephants (NH-21 min), Color and Light in Painting (A-27 min), The First Ladies Gowns (H/F-27 min),Frederick Remington (A/H-30 min),From the Land of Scythians (A/H-30 min), Ghost Dance Tragedy of Wounded Knee (H-24 min),Great Bronze Age of China (A/H-24 min), Harmonious Craft (M-60 min), Introduction to Understanding Art (A-40 min), Native American Art (A-45 min), Painting in Georgian England (A-65 min), Pompeii 79 B. C. (H-27 min),Portraits of the Presidents (H-60 min),700 Years of Art from the National Gallery (A-40 min),Suiting Everyone - Men & Women (F-27 min),Survey of American Painting (A-28 min), Texas Wildlife: Animals (NH-33 min) *,Texas Wildlife: Birds (NH-21 min) *,What is Impressionism (A-45 min), Key: A-art, F-fashion, H-history, M-music, N-natural history, * Also available on videotape.

C. Videos: The Masterson of Texas, Panhandle Main Street: Days of Hope, Days of Despair A Quarter of a Century with the Square House,L. P. (Pete) Gilvin, Contractor: Bridges to Tomorrow, The Whittenenburg Family: A Baker s Dozen, A. D. Weatherly: As the Twig Is Bent M. H. W. Monte Richie/ JA Ranch ,Rufe Jordan: High Sheriff,Pioneers in Panhandle Petroleum Lawrence Hagy: An Era, A Vision, Three (Purvines) Sisters: Memories of Home Agnes Weatherly Howe: A Pioneer Childhood in the Texas Panhandle, Bill Waters: The Measure of a Man, Charlie Bell, Cowboy, Jo Randel and Friends, The Lefors of Texas, Lee Bivins: Land and Cattle, In the Grand Tradition: M. K. Brown, an Englishman in Texas ,A Place Called Home: Polish Settlement on the Plains, The Squaw with Blue Eyes, The First 100 Years: Those Who Came, Those Who Stayed, Watt Matthews: Lambshead, a Man, a Ranch, a Family The Life of Billy Dixon,Pioneer Women,John Coleman: Bataan Remembered, Coronado: The Quest for Quivira,Jack B. Kelley: A 20th-Century Horatio Alger Story,The McMurtry Family of Texas

All videotapes are available for loan. All programs (trunk, slide, videotape) are free.

Facilities
Auditoriums
Lecture Halls
Performance Areas
Governance

A 25 member Board of Trustees governs and advises the Director.

Library
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars
Appointment required: Yes
Publications

An annual report is given to the County Commissioner's Court every January.

Services
Gift Shop
Special Event Rental
Group Tours
ADA
Wheelchair Accessible
Exhibitions
Museum Events
DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Texas Association of Museums 2025 Conference Austin

April 6 - 9, 2025

Austin, Texas

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

April 27 - 29, 2025

Independence, Oregon

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