w. k. gordon center for industrial history of texas

This is a great museum about a little known town and time in Texas history. Hailing from Fort Worth, I've driven on Thurber bricks all my life and had no idea of the rich history of the little town they came from. There is virtually nothing left of the town, but the museum will bring it to life for you. In case you want to read a little before your visit, here is a very helpful site from the university that is associated with this wonderful museum. (http://www.tarleton.edu/library/crosstimbers/collections/thurbercollection/index.html) There is also a Thurber Historical Association that runs its own website (http://www.thurbertexas.com/home.html) as well as the area just west of the museum with its few salvaged buildings. There are two restaurants, one on each side of the highway, New York Hill and The Smokestack. The menus are very similar and in the interest of fair play, we had our main course at one, and dessert at the other. Both have photos and artifacts to peruse.The original townsite is owned by the Smokestack Restaurant owners, and they live in the only two houses left there. I've gotten the feeling that not everyone with an interest in preserving Thurber's history was on board with the museum, but perhaps now that it is over a decade old, there is harmony.If your visit piques your interest in the company town concept, and you find yourself near Chicago, check out Pullman, of private train car fame.

This museum is focused on the coal mining and brick making operations at Thurber, TX. In about 1910 there were about 10,000 residents, mostly immigrants, and by 1933 they were almost all gone. Life was very tough, and you can sense that in the many photos and artifacts to be seen in the museum exhibits. The staff was well informed on the history of the town, and answered all my questions. I think I would allow at least 90 mins to see the museum and visit the gift shop. They have books and various maps about the town. It was depressing to see the youth of some of the miners, but given a choice of working or not eating, the decision was probably not difficult. The photos show a lot of the off-work side of their lives: school, stores, opera house, band stand, saloons, drug store, .... Fascinating! It made me appreciate that I live in 2014 instead of 1914!

Nicely appointed and history abound. Loved the audio exhibits. The pictures had excellent stories to go with them. Only thing U dislike is the lack of representation for the hundreds of children who perished in such a short period in Thurber. Hopefully that will be added soon

Saw the sign while on a road trip with family. Decided to check out the museum as well as what was left of the old town on the other side of the highway. I was very impressed. It doesn't cost much and doesn't take much time to check out. Very interesting and worth seeing.

The museum is dedicated to the history of Thurber, Tx , a company town in the late 18 early 19 hundreds. Thurber was a coal mining town (the largest between Fort Worth and El Paso) owned by the Texas Pacific RR. The museum covers the history of the town until it was abandoned and sold off in pieces when oil was found about twenty miles West. The only remnants of the town are a few building and the old power plant smokestack visible from miles away. The museum is small and should take about 1/2 hour to tour. A nice break from interstate boredom.

The museum was small, very well done and gave you a real feeling of what it was like when Thurber, TX, had a populationof 10,000 + before it declined to a population of 8. They had lots of things from the actual town on display and it is a very interesting history. Also visited the cemetery which is very unusual and interesting, with lots of signs describing the people buried there, some of whom decorated their gravesites before the died, etc. Very interesting day trip in our adventure of discovering America, one town at a time!

On our way from Odessa to Fort Worth saw the sign for the Thurber Museum. Needing a break we pull over to the museum. The quantity and quality of the museum was surprising. The docent looked bored but we liven up her day. Saw a short video on the history of Thurber. The museum tells the history of Thurber from Boom Town to Ghost Town. Exhibits were very well done. If you want a little history of this part of Texas then stop in at the museum. Small entry fee.

The red brick museum and research center is located across I-20 from the landmark Thurber smoke-stack and is associated with the Public History program of Tarleton State University. There is a small entrance fee and your visit should start with the great video about the history of the boom town [now ghost town] of Thurber and its coal-mining and brick-making industries. The small museum is very well organized and filled with period artifacts, fascinating photographs and exhibits that really give you a feeling for the town and its time. Stop by the historic smokestack for a picture and to read the historic marker, then drive over to the museum for the whole story. Open Tues-Sat 10-4, and Sun 1-4. A great stop between Ft. Worth and Abilene.