The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is at risk of closing its doors, risking the future of more than 2 million historical artifacts.
The museum, located in Canyon, received a notice from West Texas A&M that the university can no longer provide long-term funding to maintain the building and asked the historical society to develop a plan to relocate the vast collection, blaming decades of mounting operational costs, a decline in state funding and a list of fire code violations.
The historical society has until Feb. 1 to provide an outline as to how artifacts will transferred to another location.
The museum has been closed since March for safety reasons.
The news of its closing an important piece of Panhandle history came as a blow to the regions’ residents, with many protesting the move at a recent Canyon Commission meeting. During the meeting, Canyon Mayor Gary Hinders emphasized that he wants to keep the museum in the city, and for the university and historical society to work it out together. Hinders said the museum is a major driver of tourism and revenue for the city of just over 15,000 people.
While the city does not have a formal partnership with either the museum or the society, Canyon offers local tax funds to support it, primarily through advertising. The museum also received funding from the state Legislature, but Wendler said it has declined by 65% since 1984.
City officials discussed possible solutions Tuesday — from exploring state, federal and private funding to designating the museum as a convention or visitor center to use more local tax money, which would require a public election.
Regardless of which avenue the city takes, the museum is going to have a hefty price tag. Smithee estimated it could cost between $20 million and $40 million to reopen the museum where it is now, and $250 million to fund a new building.
While the next legislative session won’t begin until January 2027, the committees that work on the Texas House and Senate budgets will begin meeting this summer to set the next budget and would need to start early on a plan to request a one-time appropriation in the range of $20 million to $40 million.
Wendler told the commission that he hasn’t given up on finding a solution. However, he said the state fire marshal requested the building be vacated as it’s believed to be “dangerous.”
According to Wendler, it costs about $100,000 a month to operate the building, including modest maintenance. However, the university system does not have a funding stream because it’s not considered an “education and general building.” In a 1932 lease agreement, West Texas A&M assumed responsibility for maintaining the building, which some said the university system was violating.