Big Lake Texas, Grand-Daddy of Permian Basin Oil Field, Dog Trials, BlueGrass Festival, Santa Rita Days

    The Hickman Museum was founded when the home of Gracie Hickman was left to the city of Big Lake by her estate in 1984. It's intended use was for a library or a museum and since Reagan County already had a nice library, a group of citizens formed the local Chapter of the Historical Society and the group set out to preserve the area's history in the current Hickman Museum.

    Mike Werst was the original Chairman of the Board for the Reagan County Historical Society in Big Lake and he joined forces with James Weatherby, Billy Boyd, Doris Way, Jack and Virginia Black, Ruth Brown, G.C. McDermitt, Maureen McReavy, and Mrs. H.B. (Gussie) Edens. They all pulled together to publish a history book and then develop a museum that is uniquely one of a kind. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Winchester, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Bobb, Ann Schneemann and Billye Jean Ferguson joined the group. The Big Lake Chamber of Commerce took office space in the building and hosted visitors whenever the need arose. Items are arranged in suitable display areas and more are obtained regularly.

   Mike Werst eventually resigned as Chairman and Ann Schneemann filled the position. The Chamber of Commerce moved out of the building in 1989 or '90, leaving it to exist solely as the museum. Ann's work has expanded the museums visibility through the Texas Pecos Trails program and other avenues associated with the Historical Society and the work continues. She is passionate, still the Chair-person of the organization, and takes an active and personal interest in the role. She spends much of her time working toward increasing tourism traffic, improving the experience and obtaining items that will add to the museums flavor.

    Today, the museum remains as a nice visitor and information center in Big Lake and is available for guided tours, done by Ann or Billye Jean Ferguson on Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and at other times by appointment. You can call Ann at 325-884-2082. She loves to tell the stories and to provide the personal touch as she guides down memory lane, through each room and each display area.

The Museum holds photos and relics, complete with the stories behind them, and they cover historic topics such as city and county facilities, area schools, businesses, oil discoveries, families who pioneered, local war veterans and much more. The displays reveal the history of the local boom-towns from oil discoveries (in the cities of Texon, Best, Santa Rita and Big Lake) and a ranching heritage that truly is quite interesting.

A fairly large collection of Indian arrowheads from this area is on display and glass pieces from some-time before the nineteen-twenties can also be found there. Memories and vivid images are conjured up with the display of fine old furniture, a telephone switchboard, period clothing and hand made quilts. There are human skeletal remains that date back over 2700 years. (The bones came from the collection of Wilburn George, who sold them to the museum years ago.) There are farming and ranching tools and "tools of the day" in the kitchen are among them. One of the nicest exhibits is a working (to-scale) model of the rig named Santa Rita #1 which first struck oil in 1923. The model was actually designed and built by the engineer who originally built the famous rig that is now on display at the University of Texas in Austin.

All of the items have been donated, loaned or sold to the museum for it's use.

The pieces are documented and records containing the details are put together with the help of families and friends whose personal accounts, stories, and actual remembrances tie to the history that make up the collections.

Funding for the museum is provided by the Historical Society with some assistance from the City of Big Lake.

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	The Hickman Museum was founded when the home of Gracie Hickman was left to the city of Big Lake by her estate in 1984. It's intended use was for a library or a museum and since Reagan County already had a nice library, a group of citizens formed the local Chapter of the Historical Society and the group set out to preserve the area's history in the current Hickman Museum. Mike Werst was the original Chairman of the Board for the Reagan County Historical Society in Big Lake and he joined forces with James Weatherby, Billy Boyd, Doris Way, Jack and Virginia Black, Ruth Brown, G.C. McDermitt, Maureen McReavy, and Mrs. H.B. (Gussie) Edens. They all pulled together to publish a history book and then develop a museum that is uniquely one of a kind. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Winchester, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Bobb, Ann Schneemann and Billye Jean Ferguson joined the group. The Big Lake Chamber of Commerce took office space in the building and hosted visitors whenever the need arose. Items are arranged in suitable display areas and more are obtained regularly. Mike Werst eventually resigned as Chairman and Ann Schneemann filled the position. The Chamber of Commerce moved out of the building in 1989 or '90, leaving it to exist solely as the museum. Ann's work has expanded the museums visibility through the Texas Pecos Trails program and other avenues associated with the Historical Society and the work continues. She is passionate, still the Chair-person of the organization, and takes an active and personal interest in the role. She spends much of her time working toward increasing tourism traffic, improving the experience and obtaining items that will add to the museums flavor. Today, the museum remains as a nice visitor and information center in Big Lake and is available for guided tours, done by Ann or Billye Jean Ferguson on Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and at other times by appointment. You can call Ann at 325-884-2082. She loves to tell the stories and to provide the personal touch as she guides down memory lane, through each room and each display area. The Museum holds photos and relics, complete with the stories behind them, and they cover historic topics such as city and county facilities, area schools, businesses, oil discoveries, families who pioneered, local war veterans and much more. The displays reveal the history of the local boom-towns from oil discoveries (in the cities of Texon, Best, Santa Rita and Big Lake) and a ranching heritage that truly is quite interesting. A fairly large collection of Indian arrowheads from this area is on display and glass pieces from some-time before the nineteen-twenties can also be found there. Memories and vivid images are conjured up with the display of fine old furniture, a telephone switchboard, period clothing and hand made quilts. There are human skeletal remains that date back over 2700 years. (The bones came from the collection of Wilburn George, who sold them to the museum years ago.) There are farming and ranching tools and "tools of the day" in the kitchen are among them. One of the nicest exhibits is a working (to-scale) model of the rig named Santa Rita #1 which first struck oil in 1923. The model was actually designed and built by the engineer who originally built the famous rig that is now on display at the University of Texas in Austin. All of the items have been donated, loaned or sold to the museum for it's use. The pieces are documented and records containing the details are put together with the help of families and friends whose personal accounts, stories, and actual remembrances tie to the history that make up the collections. Funding for the museum is provided by the Historical Society with some assistance from the City of Big Lake. Site Map Contact Us Copyright 2007 Big Lake Texas All Rights Reserved