Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University President Walter V. Wendler provided an update on the progress of maintaining Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum's presence on the University campus.

The museum was closed in March 2025 due to serious fire and life safety concerns following an inspection by the state fire marshal's office.

Since that time, Wendler has been working with local and state officials to find solutions that would allow the museum to safely reopen.

"I have developed a plan which I have been actively working that would reopen the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum on the WT campus and address archival storage for the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society's collection," Wendler said in a Feb. 23 statement.

"The plan has multiple moving parts involving various entities, including a complex set of funding sources involving state and local dollars, public and private funds, as well as University and PPHS monies," Wendler said. "For these and other reasons, it is premature for me to discuss details of the plan. We hope to know in May or June about the viability of the plan."

WT, which owns the buildings in which the Society's collection is displayed and stored, hired an engineering firm to present solutions and costs to address the fire marshal's report and other deferred maintenance issues.

Several potential solutions have been proposed, with price tags varying between $100 and $250 million.

Wendler has been proactive since he arrived at WT in 2016 in finding solutions to preserve and improve the museum, including seeking additional state funding. He established the Cultural Foundation of the Texas Panhandle in 2021 to enhance both the museum's and the "Texas" outdoor musical's standing across the state. In 2024, Wendler secured funds from The Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp to conduct a feasibility study for a new museum building which preserves the original Pioneer Hall building.

The University annually spends about $1.2 million to support the operation of the museum and facilities.

The museum is not classified as an Education and General facility used for teaching, research and knowledge preservation, such as core campus buildings like classrooms, labs, libraries and administrative buildings. The state has specific rules governing public use of E&G facilities.

Because it is not so classified, the museum does not qualify for certain levels of state funding, including Higer Education Fund monies.

Since 1932, PPHM has preserved and showcased the rich history of Texas from its location on the WT campus in Canyon. The museum's collection includes more than 2 million artifacts and is a vital educational resource for the Panhandle and beyond.

Serving the Texas Panhandle is the first maxim of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign, which is now winding down, has raised more than $175 million.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

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