The Museum is an educational, scientific, cultural, and research element of Texas Tech University. Its purpose is to support the academic and intellectual mission of Texas Tech through the collection, preservation, documentation, and research of collections and their scientific and cultural material, and to disseminate information about those collections and their scientific and cultural topics through exhibition, interpretation, and publication for primary, secondary, and higher education students, the scholarly community, and the general public.

Mission: The Museum of Texas Tech University collects, preserves, interprets, researches, and disseminates information about the natural and cultural heritage of Texas, the North American Southwest, and similar geographic regions, and serves as an educational resource to engender knowledge for diverse audiences.

The Museum's collections, exhibitions, programs, and research complement the diverse interests of Texas Tech and its role in public and professional education in local, state, national, and international communities. Through classroom instruction, practicum, and field work, the Museum provides both theoretical and practical education. It is dedicated to acting as a responsible partner to Texas Tech and the community of museums.

The Museum expects to continue its commitment to further a synergistic relationship with Texas Tech University, sustain a challenging research agenda, expand educational programming, increase fund raising initiatives, and continue to interact with the national and international museum community in a professional manner. The Museum houses an auditorium, sculpture court, exhibition galleries, and public meeting areas on the ground floor and collections research and storage space in the basement. Under development is a Vertebrate Paleontology Gallery focusing on the paleontological record of the Southern Plains. the Museum conducts major research on the biological diversity of Texas; initiates innovative techniques in museum collections care; maintains continued accreditation by the American Association of Museums; reconfigures storage space and improves collection management techniques through greater computerization; enhances the excellence of the Museum Science Program and the Cultural Heritage Program, and provides meaningful and enjoyable public programming and temporary exhibitions.

The Museum has a long history of accomplishments. Important milestones include the first meeting of the citizens of West Texas in 1929 to initiate the process of building a museum; expediton to research the Yaqui people of northern Mexico in 1934; the formal opening of the museum in 1937; the discovery of the Lubbock Lake Landmark (a state and national archaeological preserve) in 1939; opening of the (old) museum building in 1950; opening of the (new) museum building in 1970; founding of the Museum Science Program in 1974; discovery of the earliest bird (Protoavis approximately 2.25 million years old) in 1983; discovery of a rare tetraop Technosaurus ( approximately 2.25 million years old) in 1984; construction of handicap access drive in 1985; opening of the Explorium ( a hands-on educational gallery) in 1986; opening of the Pre-Colombian Gallery (funded by public contribution) in 1987; processing of the 50,000th mammal specimen in 1988; accreditation by the American Association of Museums (only 10% of the museums in the U.S. are accredited) in 1990, opening of the Lubbock Lake Landmark research and interpretive facilities in conjunction with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1991; expansion of the Frozen Tissue Collection (approximately 80,000 specimens) in 1992; acquisition of a multi-million dollar art collection from the Diamond M Foundation in 1994; annual visitorship at the Museum exceeded 240,000 for the first time in 1995; publishing of the first major exhibition catalog in 1995; initiation of biological research at the Chernobyl reactor site and establishment of the Chernobyl research collection in 1995/96; opening of the Diamond M Fine Art Wing (funded by public contribution) in 1996; acquisition of a major African Art collection in 1994/96; renovation of the collection storage areas (funded by public contribution) in 1997; construction of the Paleonotology Hall (funded by public contribution) in 1997; expansion of the Frozen Tissue Collection to exceed 70,000 specimens in 1997; renovation of the Natural Science Research Laboratory in 1997/98; acquisition of Colombian mammoth, Tyrannosaurus rex, Camarasaurus, and the Triceratops skeletons (reproductions) for research and exhibition in 1998; reaccreditation by the American Association of Museums; and the addition of the 50,000 sq. ft. Helen DeVitt Jones Auditorium and Sculpture Court wing in 2001.