Young County Museum of History and Culture

08/29/2026

On this day in 1866, Elizabeth Ann Carter Clifton finally began her six-week trip home after being a captive of Plains Indians for two years. Her capture in the Elm Creek Raid in Young County was just one of a series of tragedies she endured during her life. Born in 1825 and married at age sixteen, Elizabeth and her first husband, Alexander Joseph Carter, a free black, started a ranch near Fort Belknap in Young County. Carter was murdered in 1857, and Elizabeth was married twice more in the next five years. Her second husband disappeared, and her third was also murdered. Nevertheless, she successfully managed the Young County ranch and operated a boarding house. During the Indian raid and subsequent captivity, Elizabeth also lost her daughter, son, and two grandchildren. She was finally rescued in November 1865, but had to wait many more months at the Kaw Mission at Council Grove, Kansas, as she cared for other released captives and fought to make arrangements for transportation home. Eventually she was reunited with her surviving granddaughter, who had also been a Comanche captive.

tshaonline.org

08/29/2026

Wildcatter Meeting spaces are set up for 1st Responders🧑‍🚒

The firefighters are in and out, and we're working with them to effectively utilize beds/rooms on-site. But regardless of open rooms🔺 we have meeting rooms with cots for the foreseeable future🔺

🔹HOTEL IS OPEN 24/7🔹 with Front Desk staff who can assist you into a room (if open) or to a cot for rest.

Thank you to C & G Construction and the Department of Emergency Management for the support and cots.

08/28/2026

Behind the Scenes 🔎⛽️

Things are coming together at the Young County Museum! We’re busy behind the scenes getting the Oil & Gas Exhibit ready for its big reveal. 👀

Here’s a little sneak peek at what’s been taking shape as we put the finishing touches on the exhibit before Monday’s special event.

We can’t wait for you to see it! Monday is almost here! 🛢️✨

08/26/2026

🎟️ RAFFLE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE! 🎟️
Get your tickets for your chance to win some amazing prizes at the Chuck Wagon Dinner! 🤠

Rifle: $20 each or 6 for $100
Quilt: $10 each or 12 for $100
Pottery Coffee Basket: $5 each or 5 for $20
Pottery Wine Basket: $5 each or 5 for $20
Knife: $5 each or 5 for $20
Kid’s Basket: $5 each or 5 for $20

🎟️ Tickets are available now at the Young County Museum!

Come grab your tickets, try your luck, and join us for a fun night at the Chuck Wagon Dinner! 🤠🎉

08/25/2026

Want an exclusive sneak peek at what’s coming to the Young County Museum? 👀

Join as a member by August 28 for the opportunity to attend Monday’s special sneak peek of the Oil & Gas Exhibit Expansion! 🛢️✨

Interested in becoming a member? Reach out to Chandy for more information!
We can’t wait to show you what’s coming! 🤩

08/23/2026

08/23/2026

How do you fight a war you cannot afford?
You let somebody else pay for it.
On August 16, 1842, Texas Secretary of War George Hockley authorized a man named Charles Warfield to raise a force, commission his own officers, and go after New Mexico. The following February, a second and more formal commission went to Jacob Snively, authorizing up to 300 men.
The terms were the same in both. Half of all lawful spoils to the Republic, which badly needed the money. Half to the men. No pay from Texas. No supplies from Texas. No uniforms from Texas.
That last part was not an oversight. It was the whole point. If the thing went wrong, the Republic could shrug.
If this sounds familiar, it is because it usually happens at sea. A letter of marque turns a private ship captain into a legal raider of another nation’s commerce. Jean Lafitte started out that way.
Texas took the idea and pointed it at a wagon road.
Episode 153 is out now. https://wiseabouttexas.com/ep-153-how-to-start-a-war-the-warfield-and-snively-raids/.

08/20/2026

A big Young County thank-you to our Chuck Wagon Raffle sponsors! 🤠

This year's raffle prize — Henry Lever Action .22 with a hexagonal barrel — made possible thanks to the generosity of:

🎯 Clear Fork Country
🎯 L5 Excavation, LLC

Your support means the world to this museum family, and we can't wait to award it to our lucky winner at the 1st Anniversary Chuck Wagon Dinner.

See y'all on September 5th for a chance to win!

08/17/2026

This is our third year to partner with Texas Workforce Solutions to provide an internship at the museum for college students.

Thank you Colton for all your hard work this summer, and a special thanks to Brady Rushing, who assisted with the operation of the program!