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 historical center for the famous Texas Rangers. The Texas Rangers are a well-known law enforcement group. This museum includes the Homer Garrison Jr. museum gallery, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, and the Texas Ranger Research Center. It also houses the Headquarters of Texas Rangers Company "F". The City of Waco helps manage the museum for the state of Texas.
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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 Aims to Do
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is a nonprofit organization. Its main goals are:
- To share knowledge and help people appreciate the history of the Texas Rangers.
- To highlight the public service and values of the Rangers, who are a legendary symbol of Texas and America.
- To be the official place where artifacts and historical records about the Texas Rangers are kept.
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 built a headquarters for Texas Rangers Company "F". Since it opened in 1968, over 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 led the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers 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. This project opened in 1976, just in time for America's 200th birthday. Soon after, the complex's name changed to 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 key place for research on the Texas Rangers. In 1997, it was renamed the Texas Ranger Research Center. This change recognized its growing importance.
After 30 years, in 1997, the Texas Legislature officially named the museum as the main place to keep Texas Ranger items. This includes souvenirs, historical records, and other materials. Any Texas Ranger items donated to the museum become the property of the people of Texas. The City of Waco acts as the caretaker for these items.
Exploring the Homer Garrison Jr. Gallery
The Garrison Gallery, which is the main museum, opened in 1968. It tells the story of the Rangers and their service over three centuries. It protects more than 14,000 important items. These items show the history of the Texas Rangers.
You can see many things on display, including:
- A changing collection of 2,500 historic firearms and other gear.
- Artwork and Texas Ranger badges.
- Items related to famous figures from the 1930s.
- Displays about how forensic science is used.
- Information about famous Texas Rangers.
Honoring Rangers in the Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame is a special memorial. It honors Texas Rangers who made big contributions to the service. It also remembers those who died bravely while on duty. The Hall of Fame also keeps 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.
- Goss, Robert
- 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
Each year, over 3,000 researchers use the center. They research their ancestors, write books, or create movies and TV shows. The center has more than 300,000 items. These include personal files and case files of Texas Rangers. There are also reference books on Ranger history, and information about the firearms and equipment they used. The center also has photographs and items from movies, television, and radio that show the Rangers in pop culture. The Texas Rangers themselves have even used the center to help investigate old, unsolved cases.
