River Valley Pioneer Museum Looks to the Future with a New Highway Facade

FACADE COMPLETED:
The Facade Renovation Project for the River Valley Pioneer Museum was completed at the end of June 2006. The Facade and landscaping looks wonderful, a far cry from the old metal building with large amounts of concrete in front. Now all that hard ugly concrete is gone and lush grass and bedding has replaced it. The ugly metal building is gone and has been covered with beautiful stucco, a red metal roof, and a beautiful front covered porch. The facade looks just like the old Santa Fe Reading Room that once operated in Canadian in the 30's and 40's. Because the Santa Fe Reading Room building was so beautiful and no longer exists, we chose to replicate it for our facade and everything turned out great. We are so pleased. You have to see it in person to believe it!! We invite you to stop by and see our new Facade. Our hours are Tuesday - Friday from 9am - 12noon, 1pm - 4pm and Saturdays (May-October) 1pm - 3pm.

November 2005 Update:

Under Construction.  Work has begun on our new facade.  The concrete in front of the museum has been removed and framing work is currently being put up.  Due to construction, we are routing our visitors to the museum's back door and we will not have any special exhibits until spring.  Please do not let the heavy equipment and workers deter you from visiting our museum.  We are hoping to return back to normal by the end of March 2006.   We are so enthused about all the support we have received in regards to our Facade Renovation Project.  We have currently raised $162,400 of the needed $179,500.  The Amarillo Area Foundation has awarded our museum $30,000.  We have also received $500 from the North Rolling Plains RC & D, $11,135 from our local Economic Development, $5,000 from the Cleo Whiteside Isaacs Trust, and $500 from the First State Bank of Canadian.

August 2005 Update:
We are now at $112,000 for the amount we have raised.  We have applied to the Amarillo Area Foundation for funds and are waiting for their reply.  This project is expected to begin October 17th.  We now have a beautiful landscaping plan developed by Cleve Turner of Amarillo.  The cost of this project is $44,151.  We were just given $45,000 from our local County Commissioners to assist with the landscaping. 

March 2005 update:
We have raised over $90,000.  We have several grants pending.  Projected start date of Facade Renovation Project is November 1, 2005.

The River Valley Pioneer Museum board members will begin campaign to raise funds for a new highway facade. The board has approved a plan, inspired by photographs of Canadian's Santa Fe Reading Room that will transform the face of the museum. The Museum Facade Committee has engaged a licensed structural architect for specifications, plans have been approved, and a budget discussed. 

The River Valley Pioneer Museum opened to the public for the first time in November 1986. Months before, board members held their first organizational meeting drawing plans for a new building adjacent to City Park. An auction that spring raised more that $6000 for the building fund. Plans shifted when Hemphill County Commissioners appropriated money for the purchase of the former Canadian Lumber Company located on 2nd Street. 

More than one hundred entries were submitted in the "Name the Museum" contest. Nan Ezzell submitted the winning entry. Throughout the summer, hundreds of articles were donated to the museum and sorted by volunteers, the building was cleaned, painted, and made ready for the exhibits. More than 7000 artifacts have been catalogued in the museum from 294 donors. 

The River Valley Pioneer Museum averages more than 3000 visitors annually and hosts many events throughout the year. The guest list includes visitors from as far away as Kuwait, Indonesia, England, and Alaska, as well as United States travelers passing through on U.S. Highway 60-83. 

Long supported by the community, the museum has 165 current members and 28 lifetime members whose photos are displayed on the front foyer wall. In 1991, the front of the building was adorned with scenes of the Canadian River by artist Nan Haydon. Artist Ton Gibson painted the mural on the south side of the building during the summer of 1994. The Gallery Room, the spacious addition with the kitchen/storeroom was opened as part of the museum in 1994. Improvements such as wall track lighting, a sound system, raised stage platform, and portable displays were added later. The room is used to display the varied traveling art a history exhibits as well as housing numerous fundraisers, luncheons, seminars, and social affairs held each year. 

River Valley Pioneer Museum events include: 

Member/Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon is held in January  

C.I.S.D. Student Art Show was held for the first time in April.

Gala and Silent Auction Fundraiser is held in June.

July Artist of the Month.

 July 4th old timers Reunion and BBQ is held at City Hall.

The museum showcases an Artist of the Month for October for Canadian's Fall Foliage Festival held the 3rd weekend in October.

Fall Foliage Quilt Show is a wonderful opportunity to display quilts both old and new.

The Ladies Hat Luncheon is a unique was for the R VPM Board to honor a woman in the community whose works and spirit exemplify our pioneer spirit.

"The museum is an important part of this community, we not only conserve artifacts of our proud past," said Museum Director Sharon Wright, "But we strive to honor those in our community who continue to exemplify that pioneer spirit."

River Valley Pioneer Museum
rvmuseum@cebridge.net
PO Box 1201
118 N. 2nd
Canadian, TX 79014
(806) 323-6548

Hours of operation:
Tuesday - Friday 9am - 12 noon, 1pm - 4pm
Saturdays, May through Mid-October, 1pm - 3pm