Wichita County Heritage Society

The destruction of the Union Train Station passenger depot in 1968 marked the final blow in the hearts and minds of a handful of men and women committed to stopping the loss of historical landmarks that uniquely define Wichita Falls and Wichita County.

1974 WCHS established by William Donnell, Christi Dotter, Nelma Estes, Larry
Francell, Charles Harper, Kenneth Hendrickson, Lou Kadane, Robin King and Lana McDonald. The first year the Society had 300 members.
1978 Drafted and lobbied for passage of a local Landmark Ordinance (revised in 1981)
Designation of Depot Square Historic District
1980 Raised funds, purchased and paid in full for Kell House and its furnishings
Established Annual Preservation Awards
1981 Lobbied and achieved publication of the General Development Plan for the Depot Square Historic District
1982 Instigated the preparation and adoption by the City of Wichita Falls
of Ellen Beasley's Historic Preservation Survey and Plan
Restoration of the Kell House Museum
Moved and restored the Burkburnett MKT depot building and utilized it for a summer lunchroom project. Later returned it to it's original home
1984 Drafted and lobbied for passage of a Tax Incentive Ordinance for local Landmarks
Created a Kell House Museum Endowment fund (with additional contributions from 2000 drive, fund now exceeds $1 million)
1985 Funding of a Main Street program in joint sponsorship with the City of Wichita Falls and Midtown, Inc. (now North Texas Visions).
1986 Acquired the Littlest Skyscraper complex from the City of Wichita Falls and supervised stabilization
1990 Published first Wichita Heritage Magazine
1991 Restoration of the Kell House Carriage House
1992 Construction of permanent home for the Wichita Falls Railroad Museum Purchase and stabilization of the Kemp-Kell Depot
1996 Addition of Pergola to Kell House Gardens
2000 Restoration of Kemp-Kell Depot and WCHS offices moved to new location, Restoration of Kell House Gardens
Kemp-Kell Depot parking lot and pocket park built, Opened Depot Square Visitor's Center, Sold Littlest Skyscraper complex for renovation, Started Trade Days in the downtown Farmer's Market
2001 Began Provenance Historic Homes Tours, Monthly WCHS column in the Times Record News, Began Historic Building Tour.
2005 The fully renovated Holt hotel opens as a luxury apartment building with 41 units.



900 Bluff Wichita Falls, Texas 76301 (940) 723-0623
History of Wichita County Heritage Society The destruction of the Union Train Station passenger depot in 1968 marked the final blow in the hearts and minds of a handful of men and women committed to stopping the loss of historical landmarks that uniquely define Wichita Falls and Wichita County. 1974 WCHS established by William Donnell, Christi Dotter, Nelma Estes, Larry Francell, Charles Harper, Kenneth Hendrickson, Lou Kadane, Robin King and Lana McDonald. The first year the Society had 300 members. 1978 Drafted and lobbied for passage of a local Landmark Ordinance (revised in 1981) Designation of Depot Square Historic District 1980 Raised funds, purchased and paid in full for Kell House and its furnishings Established Annual Preservation Awards 1981 Lobbied and achieved publication of the General Development Plan for the Depot Square Historic District 1982 Instigated the preparation and adoption by the City of Wichita Falls of Ellen Beasley's Historic Preservation Survey and Plan Restoration of the Kell House Museum Moved and restored the Burkburnett MKT depot building and utilized it for a summer lunchroom project. Later returned it to it's original home 1984 Drafted and lobbied for passage of a Tax Incentive Ordinance for local Landmarks Created a Kell House Museum Endowment fund (with additional contributions from 2000 drive, fund now exceeds $1 million) 1985 Funding of a Main Street program in joint sponsorship with the City of Wichita Falls and Midtown, Inc. (now North Texas Visions). 1986 Acquired the Littlest Skyscraper complex from the City of Wichita Falls and supervised stabilization 1990 Published first Wichita Heritage Magazine 1991 Restoration of the Kell House Carriage House 1992 Construction of permanent home for the Wichita Falls Railroad Museum Purchase and stabilization of the Kemp-Kell Depot 1996 Addition of Pergola to Kell House Gardens 2000 Restoration of Kemp-Kell Depot and WCHS offices moved to new location, Restoration of Kell House Gardens Kemp-Kell Depot parking lot and pocket park built, Opened Depot Square Visitor's Center, Sold Littlest Skyscraper complex for renovation, Started Trade Days in the downtown Farmer's Market 2001 Began Provenance Historic Homes Tours, Monthly WCHS column in the Times Record News, Began Historic Building Tour. 2005 The fully renovated Holt hotel opens as a luxury apartment building with 41 units.
With over 450 members, the Wichita County Heritage Society is celebrating its 31st year as a non-profit organization serving the residents of Wichita County, the North Texas Region and tourists from across the globe. Through the Society's influence in our community and county over the last three decades many strides have been made in the name of historic preservation. The Society saved the Burkburnett Depot, the Kemp-Kell Depot and the Littlest Skyscraper. Members researched, wrote and lobbied for the passage of legislation establishing the Wichita Falls Landmark Commission and the Depot Square Historic District, the only such district in the city. The Society purchased the Frank Kell Home and today operates it as one of the finest historic site museums in the North Texas region. Major renovations to the Kell House Museum have just been completed through proceeds from an endowment started in the 1980s to ensure the Museum stands proud for many decades to come. The Society led a successful campaign to relocate the Railroad Museum to its current Eighth Street location, and recently completed renovations on the Kemp-Kell Depot. The Depot, owned and operated by the Society is now home to the Society's offices and the Depot Square Visitor's Center. The Society hosts annual preservation awards to applaud those in our county who are preserving and restoring historical structures. School tours of the Kell House and Visitor's Center are provided for all Wichita Falls third grade students to increase their appreciation for history and the individuals who have shaped our community. The Society hosts seminars and exhibits that educate, inform and enrich our lives by keeping our history and our landmarks alive. Special events are held with the purpose of educating and increasing public interest in homes and historical landmarks. The Society hosts a Historic Home Tour each spring which draws over 600 vistors. The historic area of downtown Wichita Falls is highlighted in the fall with the Depot Square Heritage Days celebration. The Kell House Museum hosts an old fashioned Fourth of July celebration for the community with over 500 in attendance and over 100 children riding in a judged parade. Prizes are awarded to the most patriotic children. On the Kell House grounds there will be hot dogs, watermelon, and homemade baked goods for sale. Tours of the Kell House are free during the celebration. Santa House – Since 1982, the Kell House has hosted Santa every Christmas. A popular family event, visitors often reminisce about their special trip to see Santa when they were young; many now bring their own children to share in this experience. Families and children are invited to come see the Kell House dressed up for Christmas, share a cookie with Mrs. Claus, and make a keepsake to take home and save to show their children when they are grown. Santa House 2005 will run December 1st through December 10th. The Wichita County Heritage Society has celebrated many accomplishments over the last 31 years. Through vision and progressive leadership the Society is setting plans in motion that will further impact our community in the coming years for the cause of historic preservation making our community an even better place to live. Leave a Legacy Texhoma Planned Giving – Consider a bequest for the Heritage Society You can discuss this with your estate planner, or call us. We will be happy to talk with you.

{Rentals} {Contact Us} {Home} {Links}