Who We Are

1956

It’s hard to say exactly when the Buffalo Gap Historic Village came into being.  One could say it got its start in 1956 When Ernest “Ernie” Walter Wilson purchased the old stone courthouse. It had been turned into a residence sometime since Taylor County abandoned it in 1886, and Ernie used it to display his collection of artifacts.  He named the building “The Ernie Wilson Museum of the Old West.” During his tenure, he purchased an original log cabin (The Knight-Sayles Cabin)  and the first house in Abilene built with lumber (The Marshal Tom Hill House) and moved these early structures to the property.

1977

But we actually claim 1977 as our founding date, when Dr. R. Lee Rode and his wife, Ann, purchased the courthouse and the initial property from Ernie’s heirs.  He renamed the site “Buffalo Gap Historic Village” and spent the next two decades adding other buildings from West Texas communities along with artifacts from the time period to the museum. His goal was to build a major regional tourist destination in addition to a historical museum.  By the time he retired  in 1999 and sold the Village, it had nearly 20 structures and more than 9,000 artifacts.

1999

The new owners were the McWhiney History Education Group (previously named the Grady McWhiney Research Foundation), a non-profit organization with ties to McMurray University in Abilene, TX.  Founder Dr. Grady McWhiney was also the founder of the McWhiney Foundation Press, a publisher of books on the Old South and the Civil War, and creator of the McWhiney Collection, more than 3,500 books and papers on West Texas history. During the McWhiney tenure, many buildings were renovated and further restored to their original glory.

2017

The McWhiney group transferred ownership to Taylor County in 2017, who renamed the property “Taylor County History Center” to note its significance beyond the town of Buffalo Gap.  County Commissioners encouraged private citizens to form a non-profit organization to manage the growing Village and a Board of Directors was formed from citizens throughout Taylor County. Two County Commissions always have a seat on the board. A generous endowment from the Dian Graves Owen Foundation provides two staff positions, and private fundraising, entrance fees, and membership dues fund the ongoing operation.  Scott Clowdus was hired as the first – and to date only – Executive Director of the organization, in charge of all daily operations. 

2023

The Board of Directors unanimously decided to return to the name “Buffalo Gap Historic Village” and modified the logo accordingly, still keeping the iconic courthouse as the primary visual.  While the history lessons, buildings, and artifacts are from throughout West Texas, beyond just Taylor County, they are all nestled inside the charming town of Buffalo Gap. While the property is certainly an historic museum, the unique nature of its village qualities are worthy of the name.