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History & Heritage in Wichita Falls
Our storied past begins with a river crossing and a poker game. Our museums and tours bring that to life!
JENNY TO JET EXHIBIT
4000 Armstrong Dr. | 940.322.7628 | museumofnorthtexashistory.org
Partitioned into two parts, the “Jenny” has one of five Curtiss Jennys left and commemorates Call Field, the United States Army Air Corps training camp during WWI. The exhibit includes vehicles used at Call Field, WWI uniforms, equipment, multimedia displays and more.
The “Jet” portion features Sheppard Air Force Base, a completely restored T-38 Talon jet trainer and a jet engine from an A-10 Warthog. This one-of-a-kind display shows the history and current missions of Sheppard Air Force Base.
This aviation museum expresses the unique history and proud commitment to our Armed Forces, in honor of the brave who trained at Call Field to present day flying from Sheppard Air Force Base. The Jenny to Jet exhibit perfectly highlights World War I avionic history and modern USAF pilot training.
LITTLEST SKYSCRAPER
701 La Salle St. | 940.761.9955 | helloagainwf.com
It started out innocently enough, but then most swindles do. In 1919, Wichita Falls was a crowded place. Area businessmen were enjoying the first of several region-wide oil booms. Offices were located wherever space could be found, and “coat pocket” business addresses were as common as anything made of bricks and mortar. Investors practically stood in line to buy stock in a construction project proposed by the confidence man J.D. McMahon, a petroleum landman and structural engineer from Philadelphia. He probably was a genuine building engineer or he could never have presented his $200,000 project so convincingly!
The contracts were signed, money changed hands and construction began. Trouble was, none of the investors seemed to notice that the blueprints, which called for dimensions measured in square feet, were actually executed in square inches until after the property, still standing after 100 years, was finished. By then, he had long checked out of the hotel, taking the bulk of his ill-gotten $200,000 along. You can still visit The Littlest Skyscraper today.
WEE-CHI-TAH SCULPTURE
501 Wichita St.
This life size, multi-part sculpture by local artist Jack Stevens depicts a Wichita Falls legend come to life.
So the legend goes...this area was originally home to the Wichita Indians who migrated to the Red River region. Tradition says that a band of Comanches came to the Big Wichita River to cross and sent a squaw into the water to test its depth. She replied “Wee Chi Tah”, which meant “waist deep.” Thus, the name Wichita Falls was derived.
KELL HOUSE HERITAGE CENTER
900 Bluff St. | 940.723.2712 | kellhouseheritagecenter.org
The Kell House Heritage Center is a step back in time to the early 20th Century. Built in 1909, the Kell House was the home of Frank Kell and his family for seventy years.
The Wichita County Heritage Society purchased the property and converted it into a museum that opened to the public in 1981. The Museum harkens back to the romance of the Victorian era, with period rooms and family treasures. It features original family furnishings, textiles, decorative art, and historic clothing.
Tour the home of this pioneer businessman to learn the history of Wichita Falls through the eyes of the man who helped shape its present and future. Tours of this local, state and national landmark include stories of the Kell family, the city that grew around them, and their contributions to the community and nation.
The museum is also the venue to community events and host to weddings, rehearsal dinners, anniversary parties, showers, meetings, and other special occasions.
MUSEUM OF NORTH TEXAS HISTORY
720 Indiana Ave. | 940.322.7628 | museumofnorthtexashistory.org
Visitors are always greeted with friendly North Texas hospitality.
You will find two large exhibit halls, 15 display rooms and two to three different main exhibits each year. Temporary exhibits ensure there is a lot to see all year round. Visit collections of military service memorabilia, learn lingo like “Nat’s Hats” or see handmade, highly detailed replicas of naval vessels. Guided tours are available, or patrons can simply explore on their own at their own pace.
