Trip Planner 2016-17 Trip Planner For Group Leaders | Page 38

Experience | Historical Attractions THE TALE OF THE TEXAS PLAINS Y O U R G A T E W AY T O FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S CHICAGO Experience the remarkable spaces designed by America’s most influential architect Book your group today 312.994.4040 FLWRIGHT.ORG/GROUPS [email protected] SAVE $3 PER PERSON WHEN YOU BOOK BY 12/31/16. USE CODE NTA2016.* *May not be combined with other discounts or promotions. 36 trip planner “We love the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum,” says Jessica Cree of Dan Dipert Tours in Arlington, Texas. “Anytime we’re heading west, Amarillo is our first night’s stop, and the museum is the perfect attraction for our senior adult travelers.” In April the museum completed a $1.6 million renovation of “The Panhandle Petroleum Story,” a timeline of significant events in the region’s oil industry. “Visitors will find portrayals of real-life oil field workers,” says Stephanie Price, the museum’s marketing and communications manager. “They’ll also learn about exploration techniques and technologies from the early 20th century to the present. And our Learning Center offers space for additional research as well as small group presentations.” Price recommends spending an entire day in Canyon. “There’s unique shopping in our historic town square and America’s best cup of coffee at Palace Coffee,” she says. “If you’re here in the summer, you can visit the museum during the day and then attend the ‘Texas’ musical drama.” The family-friendly show depicts the stories, struggles and triumphs of the Texas Panhandle settlers in the 1800s. The museum offers group rates and complimentary admission for tour guides and bus drivers, and it provides a loading zone for groups and a separate parking lot for motorcoaches. “The curators are always so accommodating to our groups,” Cree says. “And depending on the time of year, they are open until 5 or 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, which is so helpful when planning our tours.” Contact Price at [email protected] to get more information, or you can visit panhandleplains.org. DAVE LIVINGSTON PANHANDLE-PLAINS HISTORICAL MUSEUM Located in Canyon, Texas, on the campus of West Texas A&M University, the PanhandlePlains Historical Museum is the largest history museum in the state. Within the facility’s 285,000 square feet—and amid two million artifacts—visitors can explore the history, paleontology, geology and archeology of the area. Collections include Southwest and American Indian art, textiles, ethnology, petroleum and ranching heritage.