A 1916 office building tells the story of Gray County in Pampa: the restored White Deer Land Company office building houses the White Deer Land Museum. It presents the county’s history. A dedicated exhibition area, the Red River War Wing, portrays both sides of the conflict between Native Americans and the United States government. Exhibits include artifacts from battlefields and early military outposts. In this way, regional history and material evidence of a specific conflict stand side by side.
Woody Guthrie and live music
Another cultural thread leads to the Woody Guthrie Folk Music Center. It is housed in the former Harris Drug Store, where Woody Guthrie worked and found his first guitar. The building thus connects a specific place with the artist’s early musical history. The Center hosts jam sessions on Fridays from 6 to 8:30 p.m.: visitors can play along, sing or listen. As program details may change, check the current schedule in advance. The Center is also a live music venue and aims to offer a community concert approximately once a month.
Architecture from different perspectives
Public buildings also tell the story of the design of their time. Pampa City Hall is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in the Beaux-Arts style. It was completed in December 1930; its triumphal-arch-shaped entrances feature classical detailing. Gray County Courthouse is also a Beaux-Arts building, but with Georgian ornamentation. It was dedicated on April 19, 1930. The comparison reveals two distinct architectural accents while also highlighting two dates from the same year: the courthouse’s dedication in April and City Hall’s completion in December.
Another facet of Pampa is showcased by the Combs-Worley Building. It features Art Deco influences and is part of Pampa’s “million dollar row.” Rather than focusing on a single building, the Art History Wall tells a story through materials: marble fragments, student tiles and mosaics depict local history. Its themes range from Native Americans to agriculture and the oil industry, as well as the World War II military airfield.
Route 66 history in McLean
The streets of the McLean Commercial Historic District preserve a mid-20th-century appearance; the district is a historic Route 66 time capsule. The restored first Phillips Petroleum gas station in Texas, located in McLean, fits right in. Its Tudor Revival design is considered worth seeing. The Devil’s Rope Museum adds an engaging historical perspective on Route 66, with exhibits about barbed wire, the Dust Bowl era and Route 66. Together, preserved streetscapes, a gas station building and museum topics offer different ways to explore the history of the famous highway.
Art and outdoor recreation
Near MK Brown stands the sculpture “This Land is Your Land”: the 150-foot-long, 10-foot-tall steel artwork depicts the chorus of Woody Guthrie’s song of the same name. The song thus appears not only through its connection to the music center, but also as a subject of public art. For outdoor recreation, the Pampa Hike-N-Bike Trail includes Central Park, an outdoor amphitheater and miles of trails. The Pampa Aquatic Center features a lazy river, a funnel slide and a lap pool. As seasonal operations may vary, check current operating information before your visit.
The Lake McClellan recreation area includes 60 campsites, some with full hookups, as well as 25 picnic areas. Facilities and lake conditions may vary, so it is worth checking current conditions when planning your visit. With museum and music history, architecture, Route 66 landmarks and outdoor activities, you can tailor your stay to a range of interests without having to make every discovery the same kind.
Discover more destinations: Pampa, Moore, Sutton, Colorado County, Zavala, Hale, Navarro County, Kleberg.
Return to the main travel overview: Texas.
