Cattle Raisers Museum

Unfortunately, the Roots & Range event on Saturday will be cancelled. Stay tuned for other upcoming events.

Love Hank the Cowdog? So do we!

Our friends from the National Ranching Heritage Center will be joining us for Hank the Cowdog activities on September 19!

Looking forward to being a part of this event!

Make plans to be there!

Register at form.jotform.com/261384355895167.

--Roots & Range—
Join us on August 15 for Managing Land for Herds and Habitat with Dan Caudle, retired Rangeland Management Specialist.

We've loved seeing you all throughout the summer! The Cowhand Craft Corner has been a hit. Last week we put a little western flare on Shark Week with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

Beat the heat and squeeze in one more adventure before summer break wraps up!

We are open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sunday Noon-5pm.

Join us for a great event on August 15!

--Roots & Range—
Join us on August 15 for Managing Land for Herds and Habitat with Dan Caudle, retired Rangeland Management Specialist.

Be sure to stop in and check out the photography exhibit - XIT RANCH: A TEXAS LEGEND RETURNS.

XIT RANCH: 1880s–1910s

In the early 1880s, Texas needed a new Capitol but lacked the funds to build it. The state turned to one of its greatest assets—land—awarding over three million acres in the Panhandle to Chicago investors in exchange for constructing the new Texas State Capitol. This land became the foundation of the XIT Ranch, which would grow into the largest fenced ranch in the world.

Led by Charles B. and John V. Farwell, the Capitol Syndicate provided the vision and backing to make both projects possible. Construction of the Capitol, built from distinctive “sunset red” granite, was completed in 1888, symbolizing Texas’ ambition and permanence. At the same time, the Panhandle lands were consolidated, fenced, and stocked with cattle, officially establishing the XIT Ranch.

Life on the XIT Ranch was defined by vast scale, strict organization, and hard work. Spanning millions of fenced acres in the Texas Panhandle, the ranch was divided into self-contained divisions with bunkhouses, mess halls, blacksmith shops, and corrals to support the enormous herds. Cowboys rose before dawn to ride fence lines, tend cattle, break horses, and drive herds across the plains - facing extreme weather, long hours, and constant risks.

Amid these challenges, camaraderie thrived. Shared meals, storytelling, music, and card games passed the evenings, while roundups and branding events celebrated teamwork and pride. Life on the XIT combined discipline, endurance, and community, creating a distinct ranch culture that endured across generations.

Celebrated by sharing the western way of life with our visitors!

You and your crew won’t want to miss this special day!