"For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious…read morethan if it were made of gold and silver." -Martin Luther (1483-1546) Even at night, I'm still going to stop for a historical marker. This one was interesting. It is located about 5 miles west of Panhandle towards Amarillo. There is a sign about one mile ahead of it indicating that the marker is ahead and there is a small pullout area so that you can be off the roadway. The main central marker reads, "Thomas Cree Homsite. After serving as a teamster in the Civil War (1861-65), Thadium (Thomas) B. Cree worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1888 he and his wife came to the High Plains. They acquired this land and, with no trees for lumber, they built a dugout home. Cree traveled 35 miles at his wife's request to find a sapling and planted it here. He watered it from a nearby lake that he dug from a buffalo wallow. The tree never grew but lived many years despite blizzard, heat, and drought. Gov. John Connally dedicated an historical marker in 1963 to the first tree in the Panhandle." The second marker reads, "The 33rd Anniversary National Convention, Men's Garden Clubs of America, meeting at Amarillo, June 14-17, 1965, formally recognized and paid tribute to the significance of Thomas Cree's Little Tee and to the memory of this heroic early gardenere of these high plains." The third marker reads, "First Tree Texas High Plains. Set front dugout home by Thomas Cree,, 1888. Good luck symbol of settlers through drought, blizzard and heat." Beneath that, a fourth marker, "Cree's Bois D'Arc tree died in the 1970's. County residents planted a new tree here in 1990 as a memorial to the area's early pioneers." [Review 16197 overall - 373 in Texas - 1703 of 2021.]

This is a beautiful old building built in 1910. The railroad went through Amarillo until 1979…read moreaccording to the guy I talk to at the Railroad Museum east of town. Actually the railroad still goes through because there was a train chugging past the train station as I was taking pictures, but the passenger service ended in 1979. Now all that is available are cargo trains going through. I would have loved to be able to get close to the building and see it, better yet to be able to go inside. I hope they turn this into a museum someday. It would be a shame for it to ever be torn down. How can we preserve our history and our heritage if we destroy it? I'm glad I heard that this building was still here so I could at least park in front and take pictures through the fence. If you like old trains there is a locomotive a couple blocks over called the Madame Queen, near the Civic Center. It is fenced-in also but still interesting to look at. And if you really want the scoop, go visit the Railroad Museum east of town, just off of Amarillo Boulevard. Those guys can tell you anything you want to know about the Amarillo railroad history. Be sure to check their hours before you drive out there. It's all volunteer so they are not open everyday.

Stepping up to MadamQueen felt like meeting a queen in exile--towering, dignified, and still proud…read moredespite a few weathered edges. The steel-and-concrete engine looms large, and you can almost feel the echo of its whistle and the clatter of tracks beneath it. Reading the plaque, you learn this wasn't just any locomotive: she pulled essential cargo across the West, leaving an indelible mark on Amarillo's rail legacy. The best part? It's free, open day and night, and easy to reach. We lingered for about 15 minutes--enough time for photos, a glance at the plaque, and a quiet moment to imagine life in the steam age. That said, the chain‑link fence and lack of shelter made things feel a bit distant, physically and emotionally. A protective canopy and more interpretive signs would elevate the experience from a roadside curiosity to an immersive mini‑museum.

The Amarillo Railway Museum is worthy of a stop because of its unique equipment, some that probably…read morecannot be seen anywhere else. The "White Train" is a relic of the Cold War atomic age. It was used to transport nuclear weapons assembled at the nearby Pantex plant. The trains featured armored locomotives, guard cars and weapons cars. There is another piece of equipment unique to Amarillo- a helium transport car. Amarillo has historically been the "Helium Capital of the Nation." I stopped by on a day when the indoor museum was closed, but the outdoor exhibits are accessible to see. Walking ability required.Check out the Museum website for more fascinating details of the "White Train"

Cruising down the highway outside Amarillo, I caught sight of something that made me hit the…read morebrakes--a towering cowboy frozen mid-stride, rifle in one hand and a steely stare aimed at the Texas sky. Meet the Second Amendment Cowboy: part roadside legend, part fiberglass icon, and all swagger. He stands tall beside a trio of jacked-up Cadillacs, each one decked out with mannequin passengers like Elvis, Willie Nelson, and John Wayne on their way to a honky-tonk showdown. It's wild, weird, and absolutely wonderful. I couldn't help but laugh -- it's one of those places that feels like Texas decided to bottle its personality and plant it in the dirt for everyone to gawk at. I snapped a photo, gave the cowboy a nod, and drove off feeling like I'd just shaken hands with roadside Americana at its most bold.

Another roadside America stop…read more We came in the morning, in December, which put the sun behind the statue, not great light conditions for taking photos. So maybe come in the afternoon if you can when the sun will be on his face. Located just down the road from the Cadillac Ranch, this is a quick drive by photo op if you don't have a lot of time, or pull over for some close-up pics. Happy motoring!

Approach the plaza under the towering stainless-steel beams, peer at the suspended atom model, and…read moreread the story of helium's journey from the sun's spectrum to Amarillo's star pipelines. The sundial's shadow may reveal the hour--on a sunny day, that is. Wander around the engraved capstones and imagine opening future capsules centuries from now. It's quick, free, and thought-provoking--ideal for a 10-15 minute stop.

Cool sculpture and park location! This timepiece built in 1968 is huge and great for photos!…read more Nice place for a walk, pics, watch the dicks, or some frisbee golf!

This is a beautiful modern Library. It actually looks newer than it is. It doesn't look like it'd…read morebe more than a couple of years old but when I asked the librarian she said it was built in 2002. It's kind of out in the boonies with nothing else near it but a lake that looks man-made. Inside it is absolutely beautiful. The restrooms are very clean and include a baby changing area. There are lots of books which I unfortunately couldn't check out since I don't live in town. It isn't the friendliest Library for a stranger compared to others I have been to. I carry my smaller eBay items with me when I travel and needed to come in here to print a label for a rubber stamp I had sold. I had to go through a bit of a rigmarole and pay a dollar to be able to use the internet either on their computers or on my personal phone. I went ahead and paid it but I have to mention that very few of the libraries I pop into when I travel charge to use their computers or their Wi-Fi. In fact I can only think of one other, in Indiana, and the last time I went in there they did not charge for it any longer like they had 5 years ago. I was able to get my jobs done and the printing charge was nominal, 15 cents per copy, so my total was only about 90¢ for everything I wanted to print out. If I sell anything else on eBay I suppose I will be back again but it kind of cuts into my meager profit to have to pay a dollar just to print a label out.

Long awaited visit with my son due to COVID 19 Been over a year since I've seen him,he was just…read moretransferred here 3/19/21 from Beeville TX It's a 16 hr trip round-trip but he's worth every minute to me

Great unit and great staff! The administration always helps me out and communicates well. I thank…read morethem for always being courteous and professional!

Slug bug ranch is no longer right off the highway. They have moved the cars to a location about 5…read moreminutes down the road. We went to both places. There are 2 old cars still at the original location. There is a camper with 3 dogs to be aware of.

Absolutely amazing. It's run by an older guy who lives there with his dogs and is more than happy…read moreto talk to anyone about it. He's currently doing everything he can to preserve it for the future and clean the surrounding area up. Definitely worth a stop as it's less touristy and crowded than Cadillac ranch and much more genuine.