ABOUT THE
WAR MEMORIAL
CENTER

The Texas Panhandle War Memorial and Education Center honors the efforts and sacrifice of veterans across the region, providing a place for reflection and healing. The Center also serves as an educational center for area youth, teaching the history of the wars the U.S. has fought beginning with the Revolutionary War. Interactive displays highlight wars and conflicts in which U.S. servicemen and women have served and fought.

We have a collaborative effort with the Center for Brain Health from the University of Texas Medical School in Dallas. The Brain Heath Center sends a team to Amarillo twice a year for 2 to 3 days per visit. They provide interactive brain training programs for our Veterans and their families to help enhance cognitive performance and put into practice habits that can help exploit your brain’s untapped potential. Come join the next session and let experts show you how to use your brain better! This service is free for veterans.

War Memorial Park: Visit our beautiful park, monuments, and flags dedicated to honor all our military personnel. Memorial monuments describe nine wars from the Spanish-American War through Afghanistan. The name of every Panhandle military member from the 26 counties who died in combat during those wars is engraved on monuments associated with that war. The names of over 1,550 such Panhandle residents are inscribed on the memorials.

Memorial Ceremonies: The War Memorial Center continues to host ceremonies honoring veterans and their families throughout the year during veteran-related holidays and other special military events. Please check our website for dates and times.

Reception Area: Walk in the main doors to the Reception Area where you will be welcomed by our staff who can lead you to the Education Center, Gift Shop, offices, or Veteran Navigators. The Reception Area is the entrance to our military artifacts displays. See a collection of valuable minted and signed detailed replicas of WWII ships, planes, tanks, and other historically significant items. Visit our Medal of Honor exhibit and learn the history of Panhandle residents who were the recipients of the Medal of Honor, and discover the only battle in U.S. military history in which every Soldier was awarded the Medal of Honor – right here in the Panhandle! The USS Arizona exhibit is just across the hall displaying a large photo of the entire crew and a piece of the battleship hull. 

Education Center: The Education Center offers a unique learning environment for everyone. We use an immersive, high tech experience to provide interactive learning with five computer kiosks, three video presentations, moving and static images, and oral histories. The Education Center interactive learning allows visitors to select from one of 11 U. S. wars from the Revolutionary War to Afghanistan. We provide an unparalleled teaching resource for students studying U.S. history; it is available to homeschooled students and private and public schools across the Texas Panhandle. Here you can watch Panhandle veterans share their experiences in World War II and Vietnam, and you can study the video presentation of maps of the wars showing the countries involved and locations of major battles.

Military Chapel: We have the only military chapel in the Texas Panhandle. The chapel is used for nondenominational services, funerals, memorials, and weddings, and it is also used as a classroom. The chapel seats approximately 55 people comfortably and has a piano, organ and a podium.  It has a private room adjacent to it for brides and families. There is a foyer available for people to gather in front of the entrance of the chapel. 

Gift Shop: Visit our gift shop that offers posters, hats, tee-shirts, coffee cups, pins, children’s toys, and many other military memorabilia.

Conference Rooms: Plan your next business or group meeting in one of our two conference rooms that seats up to 12. Plan a business retreat and visit our Education Center during your breaks.

Offices: There are eight large offices on the main floor and the 5,000 square foot basement has seven offices (available for rent to businesses or individuals), a large conference room (seats 12) and small conference room, and reception area. All are accessible by elevator or stairs.

Outdoor Exhibits: Walk next to an F-100 Super Saber jet, the first production supersonic fighter/bomber in our Air Force inventory. Stand next to a Huey Helicopter, the Army’s workhorse during the Vietnam War. 

USS ARIZONA: Standing betweeen the F-100 and Huey Helicopter is a large piece of the side and deck of the USS Arizona which was bombed and sunk during the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. It is an outdoor exhibit which is encased in Plexiglas for easy viewing and protection from the environment. It is a magnificent addition for teaching and presenting the differences of war on land, air, and sea, all for our country’s safety and independence.