WHERE THE PAST NEVER GROWS OLD!

Ranching played a huge part in the Childress story. Many years ago this was nature`s wilderness, inhabited by only the Native American and the wild animals of the great plains. Where buffalo and antelope thrived, cattle too would flourish. This brought the early rancher and his longhorn cattle to the area. The first cotton was planted near Carey, Texas in 1892. A cotton gin was constructed in 1893, and in that year a number of settlers planted a few acres. The yield was good and the number of acres increased. Cotton, cattle and the railroad became the lifeblood of Childress County in its founding days.

Early theater entrepreneurs F.M. Phipps and G.S. Layton defined entertainment in the early part of the 20th century when they purchased the old opera house and later built three movie theaters-- The Monogram, The Palace and The Gem. Gene Autry & other cowboy actors made personal appearances on the stage of the Palace. The dynasty continued for 7 decades with members of the extended families of Mable Phipps and Della Layton operating the Phipps & Layton business until closing in 1988.
Picture on right depicts the Palace Theater in its glory days.

Childress County was created by the Texas Legislature in 1876 and named for George C. Childress, co-author of the Texas Declaration of Independence. At the time of the county`s organization on April 11, 1887, the county boasted a population of nearly 300. Two communities, Childress and Henry, located four miles apart, bid for the county seat. An election was held, but questions concerning the legality of the voting procedures caused the election to be nullified. Before a second election was held a compromise was made whereby Childress citizens would move to Henry, the name Henry would be dropped, and the town would be named Childress City, the county seat of government.
Today a likeness of George Childress stands as a sentry at the front of the museum.