RITA BLANCA NATIONAL GRASSLANDS—Public land administered by the U.S. Forest Service is open for hunt- ing, birding and hiking. 575/374-9652.
www.fs.fed.us/ grasslands/
index.shtml.
VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK—This memorial honors all area veterans who served the country in all branches of the military. At Seventh and Rock Island.
XIT HISTORICAL MUSEUM—Exhibits include XIT Ranch artifacts, railroad antiques, Native American artifacts and frontier firearms, along with furnished rooms, circa 1900, and a frontier chapel. 108 E. Fifth St. 806/244-5390.
www.xitmuseum.com.
DENVER CITY POP. 4,596
ALT. 3,575
DENVER CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 806/592-5424.
www.denvercitychamber.com.
RV campsites available, for a fee, at Yoakum County Park.
DENVER CITY HISTORICAL MUSEUM—Five large mu- rals are displayed at the entry to the museum. Exhibits in- clude oilfield, farm and ranching equipment, dentist tools, and other memorabilia. 505 N. Avenue C. 806/592-2897.
DIMMITT POP. 4,471
The Citadelle Art Foundation in Canadian features a world-class art gallery.
MT. BLANCO FOSSIL MUSEUM—Exhibits include a dis- play of dinosaur fossils and casts, plus a complete replica of a 15-foot mastodon. The museum has specimens of enormous salamanders called metoposarus. 124 W. Main. 806/675-7777.
www.mtblanco.com.
CROSS PLAINS POP. 979
ALT. 1,717 MAP L-14
Cross Plains was originally known as Turkey Creek and Schleicher. It was probably named for the crossings of stagecoaches and military roads. A historic marker in Treadaway Park notes where Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant camped with their troops along Turkey Creek. The city is the site of the original home of Robert E.
Howard, creator of Conan The Barbarian. Howard lived there until his death in 1936. The home is listed in the Na- tional Register of Historic Places. Tours are available by appointment only: 254/725-6562. A large collection of first-edition books and original manuscripts written by Howard can be found at the Cross Plains Public Library.
CROSS PLAINS AREA VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK— Six large granite stones contain hundreds of names honor- ing those who served the country from the Civil War to present day. 225 S. Main.
CROWELL POP. 970
ALT. 1,463 MAP G-13
CROWELL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 940/684-1310.
www.crowelltex.com.
This area was the domain of Comanche people who fig- ured in history’s most famous case of a white girl captured and reared by Native Americans. The girl was Cynthia Ann Parker, taken by Comanches in 1836 and recaptured by white men in 1860. The recapture site, Pease River Battle- field, is marked by a historical marker and is nine miles northeast on F.M. 98. (For more on Cynthia Ann Parker story, see GROESBECK in PRAIRIES AND LAKES.) Bed-and-breakfasts, hunter’s facilities and RV hookups
are available. Annual events include Cynthia Ann Parker Days in May and Cowboy Christmas Ball in December.
PHOTO: MICHAEL AMADOR/TXDOT COPPER BREAKS STATE PARK—See QUANAH.
DEPOT LIBRARY/MUSEUM—Old Santa Fe Depot (circa 1908) houses a public library and museum. It fea- tures Crowell’s history and an extensive collection on Cynthia Ann Parker. 203 N. Main St. About 13 miles south of Quanah off Texas 6.
FIREHALL MUSEUM—Includes a pioneer schoolroom, a scale model of a town in the early 1900s and an exhibit on Gen. George B. McClellan’s copper mine. McClellan was the Democratic nominee opposing Abraham Lincoln in the 1864 presidential election. 116 N. Main St. (Texas 6).
DALHART POP. 8,367
ALT. 3,985 MAP B-9
DALHART CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 102 E. Seventh St. 806/244-5646.
www.dalhart.org.
Dalhart is known as the headquarters of the famous XIT Ranch—more than 3 million acres were sold by the state to pay for the Texas State Capitol building in Austin. The city was first called Twist (then Twist Junction), the designation of a railroad section. It was called Denrock, before finally being named Dalhart, a syllabic combination of two coun- ties (Dallam and Hartley) in which the town lies. Dalhart is a stop on the Quanah Parker Trail—as part of the Texas Plains Trail Region.
www.quanahparkertrail.com.
EMPTY SADDLE MONUMENT—A favorite photo subject, it was designed by local artist Bobby Dycke and built in 1940. A widow of a former XIT Ranch cowhand asked that a horse bearing an empty saddle appear in the reunion parade in tribute to all XIT Ranch cowpokes. Just north of the U.S. 87 underpass.
JAMES R. FOX MEMORIAL—The memorial was donated to city by the People’s Republic of China in remembrance of James R. Fox, who flew rescue missions during World War II. Outside the Dallam County Courthouse.
LAKE RITA BLANCA—This 2,000-acre city park offers hiking, riding, fishing and birding. Home to millions of waterfowl. Includes a covered pavilion with a stage area. Playscape includes two rock-climbing walls and a moving stepping-stone entrance. South of Dalhart off U.S. 385/87 and F.M. 281. 806/244-5511.
ALT. 3,854
DIMMITT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 115 West Bedford St. 806/647-2524.
www.dimmittchamber.com.
The town is named for Rev. W.C. Dimmitt. The hard feelings after Dimmitt was selected over Castro City as county seat led to a gunfight between Ira Aten, a retired Texas Ranger, and Andrew McClelland. A historical marker at the courthouse square commemo- rates the event. The Ogallala Quilt Festival is held in April. 806/647-0465.
www.ogallalaquilters.org.
CASTRO COUNTY MUSEUM—Housed in the Old Carter House, built in 1909, the museum features artifacts, early farm equipment and a furnished half-dugout. 404 W. Halsell St. 806/647-2611.
DUMAS POP. 14,897
ALT. 3,668 MAP B-9
DUMAS/MOORE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND VISITOR CENTER: 1901 S. Dumas Ave. 806/935- 2123.
www.dumaschamber.com.
Dumas is in the heart of the nation’s grain producing area, and one of the world’s largest natural gas fields. Recreation areas include eight city parks. Scenic beauty is found in the rugged canyons and hills of Canadian River breaks. Nearby Lake Meredith offers fishing, boating, swimming and water skiing. Texoma (municipal) RV Park is on U.S. 87 W. Bed-and-breakfast accommodations are available. Events include Dogie Days in June and the World Championship Mud Volleyball Tournament in July.
LAKE—Cactus Playa Lake—The lake is on F.M. 281, approximately two miles southeast of Cactus (about 13 miles north of Dumas). The land was deeded to Cactus and is a bird refuge. At times you can see bald and golden eagles, falcon, cranes, waterfowl and shore birds. The site is part of Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Panhandle Plains Wildlife Trail.
WINDOW ON THE PLAINS—Features local history exhib- its, wildlife displays and Native American artifacts. It includes a pioneer town replica. The Agricultural and In- dustry Building displays farm equipment. The Art Center features works by local and regional artists. 1820 S. Dumas Ave. 806/935-3113.
159 MAP E-9 MAP J-8
PANHANDLE PLAINS
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