Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1968 |
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| Location | 100 Texas Ranger Trail, Waco, Texas, US |
| Type | History museum |
| Nearest parking | On site (no charge) |
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, Texas, is the official history center for the famous Texas Rangers. This group is a well-known law enforcement agency. The museum has different parts, including the Homer Garrison Jr. museum gallery and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame. It also includes the Texas Ranger Research Center and the main office for Texas Rangers Company "F". The city of Waco helps manage the museum for the state of Texas.
Contents
Where to Find the Museum
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Waco, Texas. You can find it easily near Interstate Highway 35, at Exit 335B.
What the Museum Does
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is a non-profit organization. Its main goals are:
- To share knowledge and help people appreciate the history of the Texas Rangers.
- To show how the Rangers have served the public and what they stand for.
- To be the official place where items and records about the Texas Rangers are kept. These items are called artifacts and archives.
How the Museum Started
In 1964, the Texas Department of Public Safety asked the City of Waco to build and run the official Texas Rangers museum. Waco agreed to set aside 32 acres (about 130,000 square meters) for the museum. They also promised to help pay for its operation each year. Plus, they agreed to build a headquarters for Texas Rangers Company "F". Since it opened in 1968, more than three million people have visited this historical center.
The museum complex was first called Fort Fisher. This name came from an old Ranger camp from 1837, which is where the city of Waco began. The buildings were designed to look like a 19th-century Texas Ranger headquarters. The first museum gallery was named after Colonel Homer Garrison Jr.. He worked for and later led the Texas Department of Public Safety and its Texas Rangers division from 1938 to 1968.
In 1971, the Texas Legislature created the Texas Ranger Commemorative Commission. This group was tasked with raising money to build the official state Hall of Fame for the Texas Rangers. The Hall of Fame opened in 1976, just in time for the 200th anniversary of America. Soon after, the entire complex was renamed the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. This new name showed its bigger role.
In 1975, the Moody Foundation helped start the Moody Texas Ranger Memorial Library. This library, along with the State Library in Austin, became a main place for research on the Texas Rangers. In 1997, it was renamed the Texas Ranger Research Center. This new name recognized its growing importance.
After 30 years, the Texas Legislature passed a resolution in 1997. This made the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum the official place to keep all items and records about the Texas Rangers. When people donate Texas Ranger items, they become the property of the people of Texas. The City of Waco looks after them.
Homer Garrison Jr. Gallery: The Museum
The Garrison Gallery opened in 1968. It tells the story of the Rangers and their service over three centuries. It keeps more than 14,000 important items. These items date back to when the Texas Rangers were first formed.
You can see many things on display. These include a changing selection of 2,500 historic firearms and tools. There is also artwork, Texas Ranger badges, and items related to famous historical events. You can also learn about how forensic science is used and see displays about famous Texas Rangers.
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame: Honoring Heroes
The Hall of Fame remembers Texas Rangers who made big contributions to the service. It also honors those who died bravely while on duty. A special part of the Hall of Fame is keeping a list of all Texas Rangers killed in the line of duty from 1823 to 2004.
Some of the Rangers honored in the Hall of Fame include:
- Armstrong, John Barclay
- Aten, Ira
- Baylor, George W.
- Brooks, James
- Burton, Marvin "Red"
- Crowder, Robert A.
- Ford, John Salmon
- Gillett, James B.
- Gonzaullas, Manuel T.
- Hall, Jesse Lee
- Hamer, Frank
- Hays, John Coffee
- Hughes, John R.
- Jones, John B.
- McCulloch, Benjamin
- McDonald, William J.
- McNelly, Leander
- Smith, Erastus
- Ross, Sullivan Ross
- Walker, Samuel H.
- Wallace, William A. A
The Texas Ranger Research Center: A Place to Learn
Each year, over 3,000 researchers use this center. They come to learn about their ancestors, write books, or create movies and TV shows. The center has more than 300,000 items. These include personal files of Texas Rangers and books about Ranger history. You can also find information on firearms and equipment used by the Rangers. There are many photographs and items from movies, TV, and radio that show how Rangers are seen in popular culture. The Texas Rangers themselves have used this center to help investigate old, unsolved cases.
See also
- List of museums in Central Texas
- Awards and decorations of the Texas government
