Window on the Plains
Museum

1820 South Dumas Ave
Dumas, TX  79029
Located on the southwest corner of Dumas
on busy Highway 87-287

(806) 935-3113  Fax (806) 934-3621
 dumasmuseum@windstream.net
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

 

Watch for Special Don Ray Exhibit coming soon.


Window on the Plains Museum began in 1976 as Moore County Historical Museum. 
The facility was housed in the ballroom of a landmark hotel until 2001, when it was moved to its
permanent home and became Window on the Plains Museum. 

In addition to extensive displays centered around farming and ranching, industry, business,
family life and wildlife, the museum houses a research and archives center. 

 

The following are pictures of some of the displays in the Museum

 

1900's Street Scene
A view of businesses 100 years ago can be seen
in the replica of a 1900's street scene.  A general store, post office and doctor's office can be seen by walking down a wooden sidewalk.

Phillips and Son General Store
A general store was started in Dumas as early as 1892.  It later became the Phillips and Son General Store
that operated until 1994

.

 
 

Physician, Druggist, and Dentist Office
Early day doctors took care not only of medical problems, but also served as druggists and dentists.

Early Moore County Ranch House
 Ranching was one of the early occupations for Moore County.  This replica of a typical rancher's home was constructed of wood from
a barn that was over
 100 years old. 

  
 

Ranch House Office
An inlaid bookcase from the Sneed ranch decorated the ranch office.  Some other
items date back to 1903 and 1905

Ranch House Kitchen
 A beautiful Majestic wood stove was donated by the Irwin Wiseman family.  The stove and several of the other kitchen
furnishings came from the Wiseman family. 

 
 

1920's - 1930's House in Moore County
 Many years of experience by a master carpenter helped design this replica of an early 1920's family home. 

Early Moore County Home
Most 1920's to 1930's homes were small, usually just four or five rooms.  This home
has a dining room, parlor and bedroom 

 

  
 

Dining Area in 1920's House
 This dining area includes a wall crank telephone. 
The table and sidebar are gifts from the Irwin Wiseman family. An étagère holds a collection of china
and crystal. 

Bedroom Area of 1920's House
A beautiful bird's eye maple bedroom suite  fills the bedroom of the 1920's home. 
Other decorations include a wall hanging  woven from human hair and a sewing machine brought by ship from White Russia in the early 1900's.

 

  
 

Clothes Washing
 The weekly chore of doing family laundry has evolved
from the use of an open pot over a fire to today's
automatic washing machine.   

Blacksmith Shop
 The replica of a blacksmith shop includes a forge used by Dumas' original blacksmith and the original insurance
policy that covered his business. 

 
 

Roundup Scene
 Saddles cover the fence surrounding the campfire
area of a cattle roundup.  The cowboy represents
Marshall Cator, a well known local rancher, who is
 recognized in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. 

Tent Meeting
 Camp meetings were  held by traveling  preachers to bring religion to the scattered
communities.  Tents were set up and visitors  would camp in the area and attend the meetings. 

 

 

  
 




Playa Lake
 Playa lakes are important for both ranching and
for wild life. Runoff from rain gathers in low areas and provides water for cattle and wildlife.  During dry seasons many of the lakes dry up.   

 

Farming and Ranching
Farming and ranching opportunities brought the
first settlers to the area,
and remain a staple
of High Plains economy and culture

. 

 
 


Early Communication
When telephones first came to Moore County,
the lines were sometimes run on top of fences.
Switchboards and many styles of telephones
are displayed in the Agriculture/Industry Addition.



An outdoor display of farming, ranching and industrial artifacts
is being developed on the back
of the ten-acre tract that is home to the Window on the Plains Museum.
 

A group of volunteers called "Windmillers" help staff the museum.  Their
responsibilities include cleaning displays, greeting visitors, helping with tours,
staffing the gift shop and inventorying and cataloging artifacts. 

Most of the work that has brought Window on the Plains Museum into being
has been done by volunteers, who have labored at every stage of its creation. 
They have torn down old barns, erected walls, built displays, washed dishes,
mopped floors and worked at many small and thankless
tasks to bring the museum to life.  Your enjoyment of the museum displays
and artifacts is their greatest reward. 

 

 

Click here to go to The Art Center homepage.

 

 

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