Red River Valley Museum

Step back in time while immersing yourself in the rich culture and history of North Texas when you visit the Red River Valley Museum in Vernon, Texas. Explore educational and interactive exhibits, fossils, native artifacts, and 10,000 years of rich and colorful Texas history in this vast collection 25 years in the making. Whether you're visiting alone or with the whole family, you'll find something for archaeologists and explorers of all ages.

The Red River Valley Museum is broken into four galleries that cover everything from the age of the dinosaurs to present-day life in Wilbarger County.

The Berry History and Science Gallery

Start by checking out an extensive collection of prehistoric fossils and artifacts uncovered over a 25-year period in the Red River Valley area of North Texas at the Berry History and Science Gallery. Your journey through history continues with exhibits that showcase the Great Western Cattle Drive and the history and development of the area's main sources of income, the agriculture and oil industries.

The William Bond Trophy and Game Room

Have you ever imagined seeing a lion while on safari or a mighty polar bear in the Arctic Circle? You can do both when you visit the William Bond Trophy and Game Room! Lions, tigers, bears, and more await visitors in this Texas-sized collection of animals from around the world. See this astonishing assortment of creatures exhibited in their natural habitats. The Bond Gallery contains a large collection of animal species from across the globe, as well as educational exhibits that teach visitors about the importance of conservation and the human impact on endangered species and repopulation.

The Waggoner Gallery

Discover the history of the ranching industry in Wilbarger County and what it means to be a "real" cowboy when you ride into the Waggoner Gallery. Here you'll be immersed in the inner workings of life on the historic Waggoner Ranch. Spanning more than 530,000 acres and six counties, it came to be known as "the largest ranch in the United States under one fence!" (The ranch, long operated by the Waggoner family, was sold to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke in 2016, though its historic legacy remains the focus of this gallery.)

The Wright Art Gallery

Wrap up your day of excitement and adventure by moseying on over to the Wright Art Gallery, which features a rotating exhibit space that showcases a variety of artists from across the nation. The Wright Art Gallery also holds the Annual RRVM Juried Art Show and Sale every summer, running from early June through mid-July, along with the museum's permanent collection of fine art. The show has been held annually since 2001 and is open to artists 18 and older from across the country.

Planning Your Visit

The Red River Valley Museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (closed Sunday and Monday). Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. The museum is located at 4600 College Drive, Vernon, Texas 76384, and can be reached at (940) 553-1848.