Lubbock is one of those rare cities where history permeates everything, and as a result most locals know absolutely nothing about the city's history. Most are content with knowing the area, and specifically the city, are of some historical import. There are plenty of folks who are willing to share a few details about their home without repeating the Buddy Holly is from here bit.

Museums & Galleries

 • American Museum of Agriculture, 1501 Canyon Lake Dr., 806 239-5796 - W-Fr 10AM-5PM, $3. Founded in 2001 as a cooperative by local agricultural leaders to preserve the area's history. Also the permanent home of the Lubbock County Historical Collection. The collection ranges from household trinkets to farm equipment and implements.
 • American Wind Power Center, 1501 Canyon Lake Dr., 806 747-8734 - Tu-Sat 10AM-5PM, $3. Offers a unique experience into the history of wind power from the Old West to today. The center has restored 120 windmills which survived the scrap drives during WWII. Most are scattered along the 28-acre grounds shared by the American Museum of Agriculture. The center operates the city's first wind-turbine which powers the center, the neighboring museum, and 40 homes adjacent to the grounds.
 • Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Ave. G, 806 767-2686 - Tu-Fr 10AM-6PM, Sat 11AM-6PM, $5. The Buddy Holly Center occupies the renovated Ft. Worth & Denver South Plains Railroad Depot. Houses touring and permanent exhibits focusing on music history, local artists and special programs. A giant-size replica of Buddy Holly's trademark glasses rest on the grounds. The center is the anchor for the Depot District.
 • Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, 511 Ave. K, 806 762-8606 . Home to several performing arts ensembles and theater troupes. The Underwood's galleries feature local artists. The facility includes a performance hall, meeting spaces and a sculpture garden. The Underwood pioneers hands-on workshops and an innovative class series.
 • Silent Wings Museum, 6202 N I-27, 806 775-2047 - Tu-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 1PM-5PM, $5. The Silent Wings is dedicated to the glider pilots who trained in Lubbock and nearby Plainview during the second World War. The museum occupies the old Lubbock Regional Airport terminal which was abandoned after the 1970 tornado.

Parks

The City of Lubbock operates some 75 parks throughout the city. Most border a system of playa lakes which the city uses for flood water retention.

 • Clapp Park/Lubbock Garden and Arts Center, 42nd St. & University Ave., 806 767-3724 - Mon-Sat 9AM-5PM (Varies). The Lubbock Garden is situated in small complex including the Memorial Rose Garden and St. Paul's on the Plain in Clapp Park. Mini-Lubbock is a playground sculpture which sits along the south end of the park near 48th St. The sculpture is used to teach elementary school children about traffic safety.
 • Huneke Park/Lubbock War Memorial, 84th St. & Nashville Ave., 806 794-9006 - The memorial opened in 2004 after years of lobby by local veterans. The monument consists of thousands of memorial bricks donated by survivors, veteran's families and friends. The memorial is popular at night because Huneke Lake has three illuminated fountains colored red, white and blue.
 • Maxey Park/The Kenetic Wind Sculpture, 24th St. & Quaker Ave., Maxey Park is a popular park adjacent to Covenant Lakeside Hospital. There are several public use buildings, a large playground, and a seating area with open grills for outdoor cooking. The Kenetic Wind Sculpture sits in the northwest corner of Maxey Lake. Most locals call them the Totem Poles. Bruce Taylor, designed the sculpture in 1992, and claimed during their induction they are supposed to be cotton fiber molecules.

Texas Tech University

The Texas Tech University  campus is 2 sq. miles of mixed used buildings, rich landscape, a natural rangeland preserve and a student run golf course. The campus is renowned for it's Spanish-style architecture. Walking the campus early morning or late afternoon are best to avoid the throngs of students. Park in the surrounding neighborhoods for free or on campus for $1 to $2 per hour. There are greeters posted at most entrances and will offer directions and instructions for using the electronic meters. On the campus grounds are several outstanding buildings and amazing artwork. A few hours worth of walking is well worth it. Be sure to visit Memorial Circle, Student Union & University Library, English & Philosophy Complex, Sports Complex and Urbanovsky Park.

 • The University Seal & Fountain - University Ave. & Broadway, A 12 FT red granite sculpture depicting the symbols for home, school, church and state. Graduates traditionally have their picture taken next to the seal in full gown with friends and family.
 • Park Place - College of Human Sciences, Sculpture garden by Glenna Goodacre installed in 1999. The sculpture's seven pieces depict the seven stages of human life in honor of the College of Human Sciences.
 • Will Rogers & Soapsuds - Memorial Circle, 10 FT bronze statue of Will Rogers and his famed horse. The student body voted during it's installation in 1950 to turn the horses posterior towards Texas A&M University in College Station - traditional rivals. The statue is wrapped in red crepe paper by the Saddle Tramps, a student organization, before home football games and black crepe after national tragedies.
 • Student Union Building, Sculpture Garden and Library - 15th St. & Boston Ave., A paved walkway between the newly renovated Student Union Building and Library features several memorial pieces and the controversial Whirlwind series which continues into the Student Union. The foyer and main reading room of the Library also house several sculptures and paintings.

University Libraries

 • International Cultural Center, 601 Indiana Ave., 806 742-2974 - An extension of the Libraries of Texas Tech which focuses on audio/visual studies and education. The center's libraries contains a far-reaching collection of foreign language film and music.
 • Southwest Collection, 15th St. & Detroit Ave., 806 742-3749 - The Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library houses the Archive of Turkish Oral Narrative, Vietnam Archive, Sowell Collection and the West Texas Historical Association  . The building is behind the gazebo-sculptures at 15th & Boston Ave. and north of the Agriculture Pavilion. The building is marked but tucked away from the intersection.
 • University Library, 15th St. & Boston Ave., 806 742-0737 - Main library on campus and the largest research library in the region. The building was designed to resemble a bookshelf, but the red brickwork and tall white arches give the library a distinctive radiator appeal. The Institute for Studies in Pragmaticism is on the 3rd floor.

University Museums

 • Lubbock Lake Landmark, 2401 Landmark Ln., 806 742-1116, Tu-Sat 9AM-5PM, Mon 1PM-5PM. The landmark is a natural history and archaeological preserve on the northwest corner of the city. Visitors can take a three-mile walking tour of the grounds. The landmark documents and preserves evidence of over 12,000 years of continuous human occupation in the region. The facility is designated a National Historic and State Archeological Landmark.
 • Moody Planetarium, 4th St. & Indiana Ave., 806 742-2442 - The 78-seat planetarium features a talk radio-style show called WSKY, hosted by Dr. Cosmos. Seating is limited. There is a observatory available to the public at dusk most nights.
 • Museum of Texas Tech University, 4th St. & Indiana Ave., 806 742-2442  . Founded in 1929, the Museum is a major center of scientific research and houses the Diamond M Fine Arts Collection, portions of the Southwest Collection and a newly construction research center.
 • National Ranching Heritage Center, 4th St. & Indiana Ave., 806 742-0498 - A historical park adjacent to the Museum containing several dozen authentic ranch buildings and exhibits on ranching heritage and the livestock industry. The center is often populated by players depicting life in a late 19th Century ranching town.