National Register of Historic Places listings in Armstrong County, Texas facts for kids
Welcome to Armstrong County, Texas! This article is about special places here that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This register is like a special list kept by the United States government. It helps to protect buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history and culture. When a place is on this list, it means it's worth preserving for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
Armstrong County has four places on this important list. One of them is even more special; it's called a National Historic Landmark. These landmarks are the most important historic places in the country.
Contents
Historic Places in Armstrong County
Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight Ranch House
The Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight Ranch House is a very important home located near Goodnight, Texas. It's found along US 287 and County Road 25. This house was once the home of Charles Goodnight and his wife, Mary Ann, who was often called Molly.
Charles Goodnight was a famous Texas rancher. He was one of the first people to start large cattle ranches in the Texas Panhandle. This house is a great example of what homes were like for ranchers in the late 1800s. Today, you can visit this historic house because it is now the Charles Goodnight Historical Center. It helps people learn about the history of ranching and the Goodnight family.
J A Ranch
The J A Ranch is another very important historic place in Armstrong County. It is located in the beautiful Palo Duro Canyon. This ranch is so important that it is a National Historic Landmark. This means it has played a huge role in American history.
The J A Ranch was co-founded by Charles Goodnight in 1876. It was one of the first and largest cattle ranches in the Texas Panhandle. It helped shape the cattle industry in the American West. The ranch is still active today, showing how ranching traditions have continued for many years. It's also known as the Goodnight Ranch because of Charles Goodnight's connection to it.
Palo Duro Pen
The Palo Duro Pen is a historic site located near Claude, Texas, within the Palo Duro Canyon. Its exact location is kept secret to protect it. This site is important because it tells us about the early history of the area.
The "pen" likely refers to an old structure or enclosure used in the past. It gives clues about how people lived and used the land many years ago. Studying places like the Palo Duro Pen helps historians understand more about the lives of early settlers and Native Americans in the region.
Palo Duro Shelter
Also located near Claude, Texas, and within the Palo Duro Canyon, the Palo Duro Shelter is another protected historic site. Like the Palo Duro Pen, its exact location is not shared to keep it safe.
A "shelter" in this context often means a natural rock overhang or cave that people used for protection. These shelters were important places for early inhabitants, including Native Americans, for thousands of years. They provide valuable information about ancient cultures and how they lived off the land. The Palo Duro Shelter helps us imagine what life was like for people long before modern towns and cities existed.
Images for kids
-
The historic Charles Goodnight Ranch House.
-
A view of the J A Ranch in Palo Duro Canyon.
-
A rancher's dugout, similar to shelters found in Palo Duro Canyon.
