Amarillo is a city located in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. Amarillo was originally named Oneida and was established in the late 19th century. The arrival of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad in 1887 spurred its growth, and Amarillo was turned into a bustling cattle center. By 1892, the city adopted the name Amarillo, which refers to yellow in Spanish, and that was a nod to the yellow wildflowers and soil along the nearby Amarillo Creek.

Amarillo’s history is also marked by its role in the helium industry. Once nicknamed the Helium Capital of the World, Amarillo was home to one of the most productive helium plants in the country. This legacy is celebrated at the Helium Time Columns Monument, a unique landmark that commemorates the city’s contributions to the helium industry, and the National Helium Reserve is still held close to Amarillo. Additionally, Amarillo played a significant role during World War II, with the establishment of the Pantex Plant, the only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility in the United States.

When you tour downtown Amarillo, you will encounter a blend of historical and modern architecture that tells the story of the city’s evolution. You can begin in S Polk Street, where the Santa Fe Building from 1930 stands as a prime example of architecture from its time. It originally housed the regional offices of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway. Some blocks south is the Harrington House, built in 1914 by cattlemen John and Pat Landergin. It is a Neoclassical mansion, and with its luxurious interior it offers a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of early 20th-century cattle barons on house tours. You can also head east S Taylor Street to the Potter County Courthouse, built 1930-1932, to see the variation in buildings designs.

Back on S Polk Street, you can explore the religious architecture of Amarillo. The Polk Street Methodist Church was completed in 1928 with its stunning Gothic Revival design. The congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church was established in this area in 1888, and the present church is the second one, and it features Tudor details, including stained glass windows. You can also visit the Catholic St. Mary’s Cathedral, that opened in 2011 in a modern design.

Amarillo is also home to several modern architectural buildings. The Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts is in contemporary design, and it hosts a variety of cultural events and performances. You can also visit the Amarillo Museum of Art, designed by architect Edward Durell Stone and opened in 1972 on the grounds of Amarillo College. Talking about art, the visit to Amarillo can also include the Cadillac Ranch just west of the city. The Cadillac Ranch is an iconic public art installation featuring ten graffiti-covered Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground. And it always evolves since you can spray paint the artwork leaving your mark in Amarillo.