Amarillo TX‘s economy is powered by the Panhandle’s wind. Wind turbines in the area create jobs and reduce utility bills.
Downtown has been revitalized with new businesses and restaurants. This creates a vibrant atmosphere. Amarillo has a lower cost of living than the average national rate. It is important to consider this when moving to a different city.
1. Amarillo Museum of Art
The Amarillo Museum of Art is a premier museum and gallery featuring European and American paintings, sculptures, photographs, and more. The museum holds 16 exhibitions a year in the intricate building designed Edward Durell Stone. Through its Museum School, the establishment offers art classes, tours, film screenings and gallery lectures.
The mission of the Museum is to “enrich the lives of diverse people in the Panhandle by exhibitions, education, and collections.” Its temporary art exhibits showcase a wide range of styles and eras.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the museum’s tropical conservatory with its flourishing indoor collection of exotic plants. You can also explore specialized gardens such as the Japanese, xeric, or fragrance gardens.
2. Amarillo Railroad Museum
As the name suggests, this museum focuses on railroad history in the Panhandle. There are pictures, models and real rail cars. It also has a replica of the Santa Fe Railroad, which once saw steam engines trekking across the region from Canadian to Clovis, New Mexico.
The model train project is funded by donations. Members meet every Thursday evening and the second and fourth Saturday of the month to work on the project.
Head out west on I-40 and you’ll come to Cadillac Ranch, a roadside attraction that’s become a bucket-list item for many travelers. This unique public art installation features ten Cadillacs covered in kaleidoscope colors and partly buried in an empty field.
3. Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian
Designed to mimic an Indian pueblo, this museum celebrates North America’s aboriginal peoples and hosts dance performances. Also on display are wildlife exhibits, bronze castings and Navajo rugs.
The Kwahadi Museum houses the Boy Scouts-affiliated Kwahadi Dancers who have been performing in this museum since 1944. The troupe, which began as a single-time performance at a campsite, now tours the country.
The troupe performs at the Kiva on a regular basis and for conventions and tour buses. Dancers can also be hired for private events, and they will come to you to perform. The dancers are currently preparing to tour Ontario and Quebec, Canada in the summer of 2006.
4. Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
Located on the campus of West Texas A&M University, this museum is one of the largest in the state. The museum is dedicated to the pioneers of northwest Texas, their history and legacy. It houses a large collection of artifacts.
The museum has everything from fossilized dinosaurs to the oldest Model T Ford in the world. Other highlights include Red Landscape, one of Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings; the T Anchor Ranch House; and a cable tool drilling rig and a working pump jack.
The museum has an extensive research library, which includes business records and personal papers from Panhandle residents. The Panhandle-Plains Historical Review has been published since 1928. The journal publishes original, scholarly articles on ranching, farming, Panhandle Plains history, Native American, Hispanic, and Western art and culture.
5. Ozymandias on the Plains
The sculpture, inspired by Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem, features two gigantic legs. The limbs, which are bare of any body parts, appear to be holding up the Panhandle’s vast sky. They were the prank of millionaire Stanley Marsh 3, who commissioned local self-taught artist Lightenin’ McDuff to fashion them.
Amarillo’s economy is dominated by agriculture, energy and transportation. Tyson Foods is the largest employer, followed by Amarillo College and Pantex. A branch campus of West Texas A&M University is located in Amarillo.
Amarillo’s streets conform to a grid pattern. Streets running north to south are named after past United States presidents, while streets running east-west are numbered. Amarillo has a large number of people who use the street numbers as a reference point when driving. Amarillo has a temperate semi-arid climate. It has hot summers and cool winters with large diurnal temperature variations.