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

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

The Forney Museum of Transportation, in Denver, CO began as the private collection of Mr. J. D. Forney of Fort Collins, CO. https://www.forneymuseum.org/index.html From an early age Mr. Forney had an interest in cars, airplanes, and all modes of transportation. He was born in Enid, Oklahoma on January 27, 1905 Today the Forney Museum of Transportation is a one-of-a-kind collection of over 800 artifacts relating to historical transportation. It began 67 years ago with a single 1921 Kissel, but soon expanded to include vehicles of all kinds. Today it includes not just vehicles, but also buggies, motorcycles, steam locomotives, aircraft, carriages, rail equipment, fire apparatus, public transportation, sleighs, bicycles, toys & diecast models, vintage apparel and much, much more! Our collection highlights include: Pre-War Chevrolets (temporary exhibit), Union Pacific 'Big Boy' Steam Locomotive #4005, Amelia Earhart's 1923 Kissel 'Gold Bug' Kissel Car. We also feature the Forney Locomotive, Colorado & Southern Caboose, 1923 Hispano-Suiza, 1927 Rolls-Royce, 1913-53 Indian Motorcycle Collection, Denver & Rio Grande Dining Car, 1888 Denver Cable Car, 1923 Case Steam Tractor, 1817 Draisenne Bicycle, 500 Piece Matchbox Collection, and more! The Museum is fortunate enough to offer rotating exhibits every 3-4 months! The Forney Museum also has many scheduled events throughout the year, please click below and check them out! https://www.forneymuseum.org/events.html Make a point to come see us this year, as we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Thunderbirds! We are also having a fundraiser raffle, with the winner winning a brand new Corvette! Check out the details: https://www.tapkat.org/the-forney-museum-of-transportation/19xv3E  Located just 5 minutes from the heart of Downtown Denver, the Forney Museum is also an event venue in Denver. We provide your guests with a unique and memorable experience. Event Rental Venues in Central Space. Place your party right in the middle of our historic collection! This space can easily accommodate a dance floor, DJ, catering, and auction tables. The space will be sized to best fit your guest count- from 50 people up to 500 seated, and even more cocktail style. https://www.forneymuseum.org/MeetingRooms.html Next time in you're in Denver come check us out for a history in the transportation industry you’ve never seen before!