Museum Guide

Here in Lubbock, we have two amazing museums that showcase aspects of the City’s unique history: the Buddy Holly Center and the Silent Wings Museum. The Buddy Holly Center preserves and promotes the legacy of Buddy Holly and the music of West Texas, as well as provides exhibitions on contemporary visual arts and music for the purpose of educating and entertaining the public. Exhibitions, tours, concerts, classes and gallery talks are designed to cultivate an atmosphere where art and music are celebrated. The Buddy Holly Gallery features a permanent exhibit on the life and music of the Lubbock native and West Texas icon. Artifacts include Buddy’s Fender Stratocaster guitar and his famed horn-rimmed glasses, along with items from his youth and career. The Silent Wings Museum is located six miles north of the Buddy Holly Center and is adjacent to the Preston Smith International Airport. It is the only museum in the world dedicated solely to preserving the history of the WWII military glider program. The museum is home to one of the few accurately and completely restored CG-4A gliders left in the world. The exhibits focus on the airborne operations in which gliders were used, the training of the glider pilots and the technical history of the gliders themselves. The Buddy Holly Center and the Silent Wings Museum are open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 1pm to 5pm. Visitors are welcome to check out our websites for the most up-to-date information on admission prices, special events and holiday hours. https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/buddy-holly-center 806-775-3560  https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/silent-wings-museum 806-775-3049

Nestled in the mountain town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, the Wingfield Heritage House Museum invites visitors to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of local history. Originally built in the 1920s by Ike and Lula Wingfield, the house served as a family residence for three generations before eventually becoming part of the heart of the community.   Today, beautifully restored to reflect its original character, the museum stands as both a tribute to the Wingfield legacy and a living record of Ruidoso’s development. Inside, each room is thoughtfully curated to tell stories about early settlement life, native cultures, and the growth of the region’s industries, arts, and tourism.  One of the museum’s signature projects is Ruidoso Rewind, a weekly radio show aired on KRUI The Mountain. The program, written and narrated by the museum’s curator Stephanie Long with production by Greg Widener, explores the hidden histories and significant events that shaped the Ruidoso area. In 2025, the show earned a prestigious Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), recognizing its role in bringing local heritage to life.  The Wingfield Heritage House Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and admission is FREE. The museum also hosts community-oriented events, such as Hands-on History Family Day, which features interactive activities like retro games, historic handwriting practice, and artifact mystery challenges.  To help support its mission, the museum works closely with the Friends of the Wingfield Heritage House Museum, a nonprofit dedicated to fundraising, collecting artifacts, and engaging new volunteers. For those planning a visit or looking to contribute historical items from life, business, or tourism in the Ruidoso area, the Wingfield Heritage House Museum stands as a cherished gateway into the past—anchoring community memory and inspiring future discovery. https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/wingfield-heritage-house-museum  

The Taft Blackland Museum in Taft, Texas is a unique cultural and educational facility that focuses on the history and development of the Blackland Prairie region of Texas. We are located at 107 North Main Street, our museum houses a variety of artifacts, documents, photographs, and oral histories related to the settlement and development of the area. The museum is divided into two parts: the first part is we are dedicated to the history of the Blackland Prairie region, with exhibits highlighting its history from the pre-colonial era to the present day; the second part is dedicated to the contributions made by African American settlers and their descendants to the region.The Taft Blackland Museum offers educational programs and hosts special events throughout the year, such as lectures, field trips, and summer camps. The museum also houses a research library where visitors can access a variety of resources related to the history of the Blackland Prairie region.The Museum is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is free. Visitors can explore the museum's exhibits, or take a guided tour with a knowledgeable docent. The museum also features a gift shop, where visitors can purchase souvenirs and books related to the history of the Blackland Prairie region. We look forward to welcoming you this year! 361-214-1247  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057326985508