American Windmill Museum — Attraction in Lubbock

As a parent I’m always balancing that triangle of affordable, educational, and fun; this museum checks off all the boxes. When you turn into the park you’re immediately welcomed with an variety of outdoor windmills. As you come into the building you are greeted by welcoming, friendly, and insightful staff. The barn is spacious, open, and it almost takes your breath away how many windmills there can be in one place. As you journey along and read the signs you’re educated on no only on the history of windmills but the stories of failures and bankruptcy of multiple companies that tried. It’s a humbling reminder that their are people/companies that took their shot, missed terribly, and some got up to shoot again and some went home. My children did not find the historical aspects of windmills nearly as exciting as I did but they absolutely loved chasing around the trains and looking at the massive collection of doll houses. As you move into the annex there is a brief history of mills where my children were flabbergasted to learn that chocolate comes from (coco) beans! As you move towards the exit there is a gift shop and a gorgeous mural. It may not be the sistine chapel but the passion and work that went into it will make you sit and wonder in awe. We finished our trip outside and ate sacked lunches we brought while looking/talking about windmills. In addition to the museum there is a nice park in the area that is filled with an abundance of wild prairie dogs. Side notes: the restrooms are nice/clean and it is wheelchair accessible...

What an amazing place. I was recently in Lubbock visiting my daughter. I searched the internet for things to do and stumbled on this place. I'm so glad I did. The place is HUGE! So much to see. I never knew there were so many types of windmills. I really didn't know much about them before. I learned a lot during our visit. A piece of history comes with almost every display. Besides the windmills, there were several other things to see. Artwork, Dioramas, Miniature Houses, a Millstone Gallery and an amazing Model Train Layout (it travels on 2 different circuits, an upper and lower, by means of a spiral helix. It's 10 levels and is the largest in the world). They also have a small gift shop with reasonable prices. I took my daughter and her boyfriend and also my youngest daughter. Ages ranged from 19-45. I was pleasantly surprised how interested my kids were seeing everything. I was worried they would be bored out of their minds, but they weren't. All of them said the place was better than they expected. I...

We have been meaning to visit this museum for years....it took babysitting our 2 yr. old grandson to finally do it. And WOW!!! Such an amazing surprise!!! The size and quantity of windmills (from all over) was astounding. Plus - best surprise of all - they have many, many model railroad tracks laid that allow their several model trains that weave in & out thru the world's largest miniature layout. (The dollhouses we go inre AMAZING!!! I could have spent hours just looking at all the incredible Tony details!)) Then the trains would steadily rise up a huge multi-level spiral incline, landing them on suspended tracks that ran the length of the barn!!

There is also another building with even more detailed walk-through exhibits. There is one room filled with massive grindstones, another with blacksmithing paraphernalia,, ñantique farm equipment, tools, wagons and, finally a lovely museum gift shop.

If you haven't gone, please go. It is well worth the $7 admission price! (Oh, and small children get...