The Hutchinson County Historical Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich and diverse history of Hutchinson County, spanning from ancient times to the modern era. As you explore the museum, you’ll journey through time and discover the fascinating animals that once roamed these plains, some as far back as millions of years ago. Step back into the lives of the ancient cultures that inhabited the region, examining the tools they crafted to protect themselves and sustain their families. Picture the awe Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado must have felt as he gazed upon vast herds of buffalo that stretched as far as the eye could see across what we now know as the Texas Panhandle. Imagine the isolation and determination it took for Thomas Bugbee to establish the first ranch north of the Canadian River in 1873, a time when this land was incredibly remote and untamed.