Happy 60th Anniversary

Published on April 04, 2024

On April 3, 1964, the Texas Public Safety Commission granted State authorization to the City of Waco and the Waco Chamber of Commerce to construct a museum dedicated to the Texas Rangers. It was to be the first law enforcement historical center in the United States and to house the headquarters of Company F, one of six Ranger headquarters statewide.

Beyond its symbolic significance as a symbol of Texas, the museum was poised to capitalize on tourist traffic stemming from the construction of Interstate-35. The modest 4,000-square-foot museum opened its doors in 1968 as the focal point of Fort Fisher Park and Campground. Over time, it evolved into a comprehensive historical center, encompassing the Col. Homer Garrison Museum, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame State Memorial, and the Tobin and Anne Armstrong Texas Ranger Research Center. To date, it has welcomed over 4.3 million visitors.

Its appeal remains undiminished. For 2024, ThreeBestRated, an international travel guide headquartered in the United Kingdom, recognized it as one of the "Top 3 Places to See in Waco." Additionally, TripAdvisor named it one of the "30 Museums Everyone Should Visit at Least Once in Texas" out of over 1,000 museums statewide. Locals Love Us has consistently ranked it among the premier Waco attractions.