Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight Ranch State Historic Site

08/28/2026

With a single dream, one woman saved the bison of Texas and our nation, creating a conservation legacy deeply rooted in the culture and landscape of the Texas Panhandle.🦬

Discover the inspiring story of Mary Ann Dyer Goodnight—the woman who, with her husband's help, saved the Southern Plains Bison—at a FREE program at the Amarillo Public Library (Downtown Location).

08/27/2026

Have nothing to do this weekend?

Come out to the Amarillo Public Library-Downtown Location to learn about the little Mother of the Texas Panhandle and how she saved the Southern Plains Bison from extinction! It is on Saturday at 10 am and is free and open to the public!

Visit the Downtown Library on Saturday morning for Saving the Southern Plains Bison Herd, a special America 250 program offered in partnership with the Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight Ranch State Historic Site! Discover the inspiring story of Mary Ann Dyer Goodnight—the woman who, with her husband's help, saved the Southern Plains Bison. Besides preserving the bison of Texas, Mary Ann's actions created a conservation legacy deeply rooted in the culture and landscape of the Texas Panhandle.🦬
That's happening on Saturday, August 29 at 10 AM at the Downtown Library!

08/27/2026

How did one greet a gentleman while out on a walk? What was the correct fork to use at dinner? Come test your knowledge about Edwardian manners at our free program, Frontier Voices: Edwardian Manners on the 29th of August at 11 AM. A free self guided house tour will follow the program.
📍Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight Ranch State Historic Site Learning Center
📅August 29th at 11 AM
🎫Free

08/21/2026

As our country turns 250 years old, the first cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle, the famed JA, turns 150!

In honor of this momentous occasion, Dr. Alex Hunt from West Texas A&M University is visiting the Goodnight Ranch Learning Center on Saturday, August 22, at 11 a.m. and will look back at the history of the woman behind the ranch, Cornelia Wadsworth Ritchie Adair.

This talk will give a brief overview of Cornelia’s life, with special emphasis on Cornelia’s relationship to the JA. Cornelia was an individual with strong ideas regarding land and livestock, and even when she could not visit so regularly, maintained close communication with the ranch. While she long felt that the ranch must be sold to give way to changing times, she never could bring herself to actually make the sale.

This lecture is free and will be followed by a self-guided tour of the Goodnight Home.

08/17/2026

As our country turns 250 years old, the first cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle, the famed JA, turns 150!

In honor of this momentous occasion, Dr. Alex Hunt from West Texas A&M University is visiting the Goodnight Ranch Learning Center on Saturday, August 22, at 11 a.m. and will look back at the history of the woman behind the ranch, Cornelia Wadsworth Ritchie Adair.

This talk will give a brief overview of Cornelia’s life, with special emphasis on Cornelia’s relationship to the JA. Cornelia was an individual with strong ideas regarding land and livestock, and even when she could not visit so regularly, maintained close communication with the ranch. While she long felt that the ranch must be sold to give way to changing times, she never could bring herself to actually make the sale.

This lecture is free to the public and will be followed by a self-guided tour of the Goodnight Home.

08/14/2026

TOMMOROW! On Saturday, August 15th, at 11 am--step back in time with our FREE captivating lecture series as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the legendary JA Ranch—right as America marks its 250th birthday!

Discover the stories, the spirit, and the influence that shaped the Texas Panhandle! Who was the man behind the JA Brand? Some might argue it was Charles Goodnight, but the brand itself, JA, stood for John Adair, a wealthy Irish broker turned Texas Panhandle cattle baron! Let's learn more about the man behind the brand and his impact on the very first cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle. A self-guided tour of the Goodnight Home will follow this free program! This event is presented as part of Texas-America250, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.