Museum of the West Texas Frontier

The Museum of the West Texas Frontier will organize, preserve, and digitize over 5,000 at-risk artifacts, photographs, maps, documents, and archival materials from Stamford and surrounding West Texas communities, including now-abandoned ghost towns. The project will unfold over five phases: comprehensive inventory and assessment; equipment upgrades and development of a user-friendly online database; digitization of prioritized items and installation of archival-grade storage solutions; community outreach about digitization through workshops to increase local participation and feedback; and final cataloging, accessioning, environmental stabilization, and training for staff and volunteers to ensure long-term sustainability. Intended results include an archival system with standardized cataloging, preservation of vulnerable materials, a publicly accessible digital archive, increased community engagement, and strengthened institutional capacity for ongoing stewardship. Primary beneficiaries include local residents, educators, and students from Stamford and nearby rural West Texas communities, as well as researchers and other visitors.