Plan Your Visit

A Texas Legend... and an American Heritage

In 1964 the State of Texas, City of Waco and private benefactors partnered to collect and preserve the history and heritage of the legendary Texas Rangers for future generations.

In 1968 a small museum dedicated to the Texas Rangers opened on the banks of the Brazos River through the efforts of the State of Texas/Texas Department of Public Safety, City of Waco and Waco Chamber of Commerce. Today, it has grown into an historical center operated as a department of the City of Waco and has welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors from around the world.

Mission

To collect, preserve and disseminate knowledge of the Texas Rangers, a legendary symbol of Texas and the American West; to document Texas Rangers past and present.

The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is a 170(c) governmental nonprofit operated by the City of Waco under authorizations from the State of Texas. It is a department of the City of Waco in partnership with the Texas Public Safety Commission, and the Texas Department of Public Safety-Texas Rangers Division. Representatives of each organization serve on the Board in an administrative ex-officio, advisory, or development role.

Advisory Board Members

Emeritus Members

Honorary Members

• Ranked in the Top 3 Museums in "H.O.T. Readers' Choice Awards" by local readers of the Waco Tribune Herald - 2022
• Selected as one of top "21 Things to do in Waco" by NewsExplorer - 2022
• Ranked in top 30 "Highest-Rated Things to do in Texas" by CW39 Houston - 2022
• Received Reader's Choice Award "Best of the West" Museum by True West Magazine - 2022
• Selected as one of three best "Places to See" in Waco by Three Best Rated (UK version of TripAdvisor) - 2021
• Ranked #6 of 17 Best Things to Do in Waco, TX (for 2021) by Family Destinations Guide - 2021
• Received Certificate of Excellence by Three Best Rated - 2021
• Received Travelers' Choice 2020 Award by TripAdvisor - 2020
• Selected as one of three best "Places to See" in Waco by Three Best Rated (UK version of TripAdvisor) - 2020
• Ranked #4 in its "The 20 Best Things to Do in Waco, TX, for First Timers" by Money Inc - 2020
• #8 of 18 Top Western Museums of 2019 by True West Magazine - 2019
• #21 of "40 places every Texas Kid Must Visit Before Growing Up" by Houston Chronicle - 2019
• #2 of "5 Ways to Enjoy Your Next Trip to Waco" by Click2Houston.com - 2019
• Selected as one of three best "Places to See" in Waco by Three Best Rated (UK version of TripAdvisor) - 2018
• Received TripAdvisor Award of Excellence and in the top 3 of area attractions - 2018
• Ranked #1 of 4 top "Waco Favorite Places to Visit" by Chip and Joanna Gaines for People - 2017
• Ranked #10 of 50 "American Landmarks Every Patriot Should Visit" by Newsmax - 2015
• Featured when Waco ranked #3 of "Top 40 Travel Destinations in Texas" by readers of Texas Highways Magazine - 2013
• Ranked in the Top 3 Museums in "H.O.T. Reader's Choice Awards" by local readers of the Waco Tribune-Herald - 2011
• Selected as one of 10 Best US Halls of Fame by USA Today - 2008
• Ranked #1 of Western history museums in Texas by True West Magazine - 2003
• Selected as one of Texas Highways Magazine's 10 best museums in Texas - 2001
• “Official State Repository of Texas Ranger Memorabilia” (75th Texas Legislature, House Concurrent Resolution 55, 1997).
• “Hall of Fame of the Texas Rangers” a memorial established by the State appointed Texas Rangers Commemorative Commission (62nd Texas Legislature Senate Bill 709, 1971; papers of the State Texas Ranger Commemorative Commission 1972-73).
• “Official Texas Ranger Museum” (incorporated in 61st Texas Legislature Senate Resolution No. 653, 1969).
• “Homer Garrison, Jr. Texas Ranger Museum” authorized by the Texas Public Safety Commission and Texas Department of Public Safety (Texas Ranger Museum papers, April 3, 1964).

Fort Fisher was constructed in February 1837 by order from William Fisher, Secretary of War for the Republic of Texas. It was a humble collection of quickly constructed shelters on the banks of the Brazos River for the purpose of housing a small company of Texas Rangers. After only a few months, it was decided that this location was too remote for the Rangers to provide adequate service and was abandoned. The original site of Fort Fisher is unknown, being described only as being “near the springs of the Brazos” by a Waco Indian camp.

The current site of Fort Fisher Park was chosen because of its proximity to the newly constructed I-35. In 1968, the Texas Ranger Museum and Texas Rangers Company “F” headquarters opened in the Park as an educational attraction to tell the story of Texas through the history of the Rangers. The Museum building was not based on any actual known Fort but was supposed to represent a vision of a fort on the Texas frontier.

The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, study and exhibit artifacts, artwork and archives relating to the Texas Ranger service while permanently documenting the service of the Texas Rangers past and present. More than four million people have visited the museum since its doors were opened.