Childress County Heritage Museum

Childress County Heritage Museum was chartered January 12, 1976, in conjunction with the nation`s bicentennial, with the late A.V. McFarland its first president and curator. Its humble beginnings were in the old jail on the courthouse square. It is now at home in the old U S Post Office built in 1935. It was purchased in 1981 by the late Eugene and Janet Norris Smith and donated to the museum board, in memory of their parents, to house the historical artifacts of Childress County, Texas. Doors of the new museum were opened in 1983.  The building received Texas Historical Landmark designation by the Texas Historical Commission in 1991.  The architecture of the museum building is described as "Spanish Colonial Style" featuring the parapet above the main entrance and round arch windows.  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.