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August 2023
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Newsletter
Department the City of Waco
Official State Repository of Texas Ranger Memorabilia
Home of Texas Ranger Bicentennial 1823-2023
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Attendance and Revenues Bounce Back | |
Thank you to our summer visitors! Following years of improvements to Interstate 35 and the COVID pandemic, visitors returned in substantial numbers. This brought an even more remarkable increase in revenues that support our nonprofit operations, educational and preservation programs. According to a national survey by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), most museums have about 30% fewer visitors than before the pandemic. | |
The TRHFM has recovered to about 65% of attendance levels before COVID and years of construction to make much needed improvements to Interstate 35. The returning visitors from around the world have been gracious and supportive, and our June revenues increased 36% above June of last year. These monies fund our nonprofit operations, educational, preservation and research programs. | |
Replacement of State historic attraction signs on I-35 has helped considerably. The new brown directional signs were installed in April 2023. | |
We are especially grateful to our staff who have provided first-rate experiences for visitors. From learning about the museum through the web and social media, to their arrival, tours of the collections on display in the exhibits, educational programs, and shopping in the store, the staff has been instrumental in ensuring that visitors have a great time. | |
If you haven’t visited in a while, escape the summer heat, and spend an afternoon in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame. | |
Inventorying the Artifact Collections | |
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is home to thousands of irreplaceable historic artifacts, documents, books, and photographs. Our collection of artifacts plays a part in the museum’s mission to collect, preserve and disseminate knowledge of the Texas Rangers, a legendary symbol of Texas and the American West. Some of these items were gifts presented to the people of Texas, while others are on loan from Texas Rangers, their descendants, institutions and individuals. | |
The Collections Department staff is responsible for not only ensuring the best care for the objects on exhibit but is also responsible for the safety and security of the objects in the collections. Part of this care is knowing where each individual object can be found. The department utilizes a database software called PastPerfect to catalog each item in the collection. Each artifact on exhibit, as well as each artifact in the vault, is assigned an accession number and a location in the database to enable staff to easily locate each artifact. | |
Collections Assistant Eric Richard checking the location of badges in the vault as compared to their noted location on PastPerfect. | |
The Collections Department conducts a complete inventory biannually to account for each artifact in the museum’s collection. Conducting a full inventory is beneficial to complete any location updates and ensure everything is accounted for. | |
A commemorative paperweight from the museum collection. Note the accession number that appears on the back of the paperweight. Gift of Byron Johnson/2023.019.001 | |
With both donated and loaned artifacts, it is important to maintain the trust of our donors and lenders, as well as the public that we serve. The collections of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum represent the 200 years of Texas Ranger history. Our goal is to ensure that the collection will be accessible for future generations to learn from and enjoy. | |
Story Time & Craft Days Return | |
Our Story Time & Craft Days return this fall to finish out the 2023 Bicentennial year celebrations. | |
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August 12- Art and Horses
September- NO STORY TIME AND CRAFT DAY
October 14- Spooky Campfire Tales
November 11- Veteran's Day
December 9- Cowboy Holidays
| Activities run 10am-1pm on the second Saturday of the month and are included with regular museum admission. | |
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A special thanks to everyone who worked hard to make our summer programming a success. We are excited to share everything we've accomplished in the upcoming September newsletter. | |
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Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum Assists
Martin Scorsese Production of Killers of the Flower Moon
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Over the years the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame has assisted many theatrical film productions, historical documentaries, theatrical productions, podcasts and news stories. The latest is Martin Scorsese’s production of David Grann’s book Killers of the Flower Moon starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Brendan Fraser, and Jesse Plemons. | |
The book and film cover lawless events in the 1920s when oil was discovered on Osage lands in Oklahoma. Plemons plays FBI agent and former Texas Ranger Tom White. The TRHFM staff provided biographical files for Tom White and his brothers, who also served as Texas Rangers, to Scorsese’s researchers. | |
The trailer is available on YouTube and the movie is set for October release in theaters. | Welcome Dr. Christine Nix | | |
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We proudly welcomes Retired Ranger Dr. Christine Nix to the Texas Ranger Museum Advisory Board. The institution is guided by a statewide board of citizens, active retired Texas Rangers and Texas Department of Public Safety representatives. | Christine Nix was the first African American female Texas Ranger. She served in Company "F" at located in offices at the Hall of Fame and Museum from 1994-2004. She is an expert in forensic hypnosis, specialized units within law enforcement and victimology. She holds a doctorate from Sam Houston State University and is the Coordinator and Criminal Justice Program Professor at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas. She also served as a Major in the US Army Reserve. | |
In Memoriam: Howard Dunham | | |
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Howard Leo Dunham
April 2, 1945 - July 5, 2023
| Retired Texas Ranger Howard Dunham, formerly of Company “B”, passed away on July 5th. He joined the Texas Department of Public Safety DPS in 1972 as a Highway Patrol Trooper. He was promoted to Texas Ranger in 1986 was stationed in Ozona, Garland and Texarkana before his retirement in 2003 after serving about 17 years as a Ranger. Our condolences to his family and many friends and colleagues in law enforcement. | |
Gift Shop Feature: Summer Hats | |
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Available in Light Red, Yellow, Light Blue and Sand.
$25.00 each + Tax
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To shop more items available for purchase, please visit our Gift Shop online or in person 9am to 4:30pm daily. You never have to pay admission to shop. Sales from the Gift Shop benefit the preservation and education activities of the Museum. Please call (254) 750- 8631 or email info@texasranger.org to order. We ship worldwide. Thank you! | |
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and BicentennialTM Support | |
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Contribute to the TRHFM in honor of the Texas Rangers Bicentennial™ in 2023. With a $100 contribution, you will receive:
- A limited-edition enameled bronze pin featuring a Texas Ranger Bicentennial™ seal
- A certificate signed by an active or distinguished retired Texas Ranger
- Your name or family name on the online roster of Bicentennial Supporters™
- A one-time-use family admission ticket (admits 4) to the Museum.
$90 of the contribution qualifies as a charitable contribution. The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame is a 170(c) government-owned nonprofit.
Please click here to learn more about the program.
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Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Bicentennial Pin
Trademarked by the Texas Dept. of Public Safety Designed by the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
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Save $1.00 off regular adult admission for up to two adults. Coupon not valid on discounted senior or military admission. No cash value.
The museum is open 9am to 5pm with the last guest admitted at 4:30pm. The museum is located off I-35 and University Parks Drive in Waco, Texas. For more information, call (254) 750-8631 or visit www.texasranger.org.
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Newsletter Compiled by Christine Rothenbush, Marketing & Development Specialist | | | | |
