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The Panhandle-Plains Museum in Canyon, Texas, recently celebrated its 88th anniversary. That is quite an old museum anywhere in the states, but especially so in the American West.

To give some perspective, Texas had only become a state 88 years prior to the opening of the Panhandle-Plains museum. Eighty-eight must be an auspicious number for Texas this year.

In addition to being the oldest history museum in Texas, Panhandle-Plains is also the largest at a whopping 285,000 square feet full of artifacts and displays. Subjects represented in permanent exhibits include art, archeology, geology, paleontology, textiles, weapons, windmills, "the People of the Plains" and more.

There are also special collections that display on a limited basis, including a 1920s prohibition collection and a flapper fashion collection on display now. It's fun to think about how these artifacts from the '20s, had they been displayed when the museum opened, would be akin to displaying a hoverboard or a Minions plushie now.

Canyon, Texas is only an hour and a half drive from Lubbock, making it a great choice for a day trip. Canyon is also home to the beautiful and awe-inspiring Palo Duro Canyon, which makes for an epic hiking experience. Please be forewarned that the canyon can get very, very hot, so plan your hike accordingly.

If you're looking for an epic adventure without the epic drive, Canyon, Texas might be the perfect place for you. I would also recommend popping up to Amarillo to get the best latte in the West at 806 Coffee and getting your photo taken at the world's weirdest and coolest outsider art display: the Cadillac Ranch.

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.

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