What is amarillo famous for

The vast, empty territory was immediately sought out by buffalo hunters while the soldiers at Fort Elliott were tasked with keeping the Indians on Oklahoma reservations. In late , Charles Goodnight drove a herd of longhorn cattle into Palo Duro Canyon to begin the first Panhandle ranch. Quickly following, more cattlemen and sheepherders headed to the area for fresh grazing grounds and a place to start a new life. Berry, a townsite developer from Abilene, Texas, quickly began to develop the settlement, and on August 30, , it won the designation as the Potter County seat.

The Spanish pronunciation, Ah-mah-ree-yoh, was first used to describe the settlement, but that was short-lived. The first newspaper was founded in , the second in , and the surviving newspaper, the Amarillo News , was founded in Industry in Amarillo thrived in the early years because of railroading, cattle, and merchandising. By the turn of the century, fencing of ranges began as farmers began to plant wheat, further developing the Amarillo area into a major wheat belt.

Construction of the Southern Kansas, the Pecos and Northern Texas, and the Chicago, Rock Island , and Gulf railroads by added to the shipping facilities, further increasing the population. The Amarillo Independent School District was formed in , and by the following year, a new stone courthouse and jail were completed after a bitter court battle over ownership of the courthouse square. The Amarillo Street Railway Company began operating its electric streetcar lines in January , and by , Amarillo was called home to almost 10, residents.

In , a long stretch of Sixth Street became the first paved roadway in Amarillo, a portion of which Route 66 would later follow through the San Jacinto Heights neighborhood. In the earliest days, the route entered Amarillo, on 8th Avenue which later became Amarillo Boulevard, turned south on Fillmore Street, west on 6th Avenue, and followed Bushland Avenue leaving the city. Later, as the city expanded, the route was moved entirely to Amarillo Boulevard, bypassing downtown and traveling northwest of much of the city.

The s brought drought and the Dust Bowl to Amarillo, but the decade also saw the rise of tourist stops, numerous motels, and restaurants as Americans began to feverishly travel Route Today, Amarillo is called home to about , people, where gas, petroleum, agriculture, and cattle are the principal sources of income.

The Amarillo area is now a major destination for Old West and Route 66 enthusiasts from all over the globe. Some of the most popular animals here include lions, tigers, bobcats, ring-tailed lemurs, foxes, bears, kangaroos, and monkeys. And while these might be the show stoppers, you'll also find irresistibly cute miniature horses and miniature donkeys, a Texas longhorn, skunks, and a whole host of other furry critters.

Perhaps less cute but equally interesting are the spiders, amphibians, and reptiles, including enormous Burmese pythons, along with a variety of other snakes, as well as turtles and salamanders in the Herpetarium. The Amarillo Botanical Gardens are easily identifiable by the stunning silver and glass diamond-shaped conservatory that dominates the grounds. Spread over four acres, the gardens feature local flora outside, including a fragrance garden, while tropical plants are housed inside the conservatory.

During the Christmas season, the gardens are lit up in a kaleidoscope of colors and are a fun place to visit after the sun sets. The Amarillo Botanical Gardens are located just down the street from the Don Harrington Discovery Center , and in between the two is Medi-Park , with a children's playground and splash pad.

A small but inspiring collection of aircraft and related pieces, along with a passionate and friendly staff of volunteers, make this a great stop for pilots or those with an interest in aviation. Located near the airport, the museum is laid out in both indoor and outdoor space. In the main hangar, the centerpiece is a DC-3 from You can walk right up to the cockpit for a look at the instruments. Also in the hangar is a home-built crop duster from the late s and interesting pieces, such as an ejection seat from a B bomber and a hot air balloon basket.

Outside is a C-7 Caribou from and an aircraft used as a training vehicle for astronauts landing NASA space shuttles, both of which you are welcome to board.

Astronaut Rick Husband , who was killed in the Columbia space shuttle as it was destroyed on re-entry from space, was from Amarillo. Another small area of the museum displays model aircraft and information on Husband and his career. Amarillo is in the process of revitalizing the downtown area, where you'll find a mix of old and new buildings, both of which are intriguing.

Some historical buildings remain, like the former Fisk Building, today one of Amarillo's top hotels, the Courtyard by Marriott. Other remnants of a bygone age are the neon signs, although many of the modern signs are LED, but reminiscent of the age of neon. Dining facilities are expanding and many independent restaurants are opening in the city center, creating a new atmosphere and what appears to be the start of a more vibrant downtown in Amarillo.

Wonderland Amusement Park is one of the best things to do for families in Amarillo. Roller coasters, including the Texas Tornado and the Mouse Trap, will have you screaming in fear or delight. If it's hot, which it usually is in Amarillo in the summer, be sure to try out the water rides. Other fun things to do include mini golf, bumper cars, and a number of less intense amusement rides. Attractions are spread out all over the city, but distances are relatively short. If you are spending a couple of days, staying downtown is a good choice.

You can also find quality hotels spread along I, which runs east to west through the city. South of Amarillo: Less than two hours south of Amarillo, Lubbock is another small city worth visiting. Although it's known for being the home of Buddy Holly, this is just one of the attractions.

It's also a good stop if you are on your way to see the sights of Big Bend National Park. Texas Travel Guide. Written by Lana Law Jul 27, We may earn a commission from affiliate links This small and unassuming city in the High Plains of West Texas holds some surprising treats for visitors, and many of the best tourist attractions and things to do are free.

For a complete overview, here is our list of top things to do in Amarillo. See also: Where to Stay in Amarillo Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues. Wildlife is also plentiful, so bring a camera if you want to capture some of the animals that call the park home. As such, if you want to see if you can take on the might of a 72 oz steak, then this is the place to do it.

The steak challenge here involves eating a 72 oz steak as well as an appetizer, salad, and potato within one hour. Source: pinterest. If features Native Americans, cowboys, pioneers, and all sorts of other fun and exciting storylines, and has been performed here in the summer months for the last 50 years. There is also the option of enjoying a delicious traditional Texan barbecue dinner as part of the show package.

Source: tripadvisor. As such, and as a memorial to the famous road and song, you will find the dedicated Route 66 District in Amarillo. The district stretches for one mile in the city and is full of historical buildings as well as a wealth of diverse shops.

These include antique stores as well as handicraft shops and quirky art galleries, and you will also find a wealth of dining options here. These include local restaurants with traditional Texan fare as well as bars and live music events. Source: amarillolittletheatre. You might think of Texas in terms of the barbecue and the cowboys, but this city is also a hotspot for culture and the arts, and you can check this out in person by heading to the Amarillo Little Theatre.

This is known for being not only one of the oldest, but also the longest continuously open theatre in the country. Catch a show here and know that you are in the presence of a true historical and culturally significant gem in Texas. The first production staged by the opera was Madame Butterfly by Puccini, but since then there have been a huge range of other concerts incorporating a range of styles.

The company is dedicated to education and preserving the arts in Amarillo, and over , people attend shows here every year. The Cadillac Ranch is one of the most famous pieces of art in the country and was established in by a group of artists from the area.

The colorful art installation is an ode to Route 66, as Amarillo sits along this famous road, and is made up of ten Cadillac cars that are half-submerged in the Texas earth. The cars started off in their original form, but over the years people have decorated them as they have visited the installations, and now they are a riot of color and graffiti, which only adds to their charm.