The American Wind Power Center is a museum of wind power in Lubbock, Texas. Located on 28acre of city park land east of downtown Lubbock, the museum has more than 160 American style windmills on exhibition.HistoryThe center was established in 1993 by Miss Billie Wolfe and Coy F. Harris. Wolfe, a faculty member at Texas Tech University, began searching for windmills in the early 1960s. She photographed and documented windmills across the nation and encouraged people to save what windmills were still standing. Thirty years later, there had been several individuals who had restored a number of early mills and Wolfe located one of these in Mitchell, Nebraska. By this time, Harris was working with Wolfe and he arranged, disassembled and moved this collection of forty-eight rare windmills to Lubbock.These windmills remained in storage until 1997, when the City of Lubbock authorized an area of land for the museum. Harris and volunteers moved the collection to this new site. Windmills were erected on the grounds and inside a modest exhibit building.In 1999, a much larger building became available, and Harris directed the movement of this building to the park site. He redesigned part of the "metal fabrication building" to better fit the windmills.PresentlyAt the present time, there are more than a hundred rare and historic water pumping windmills displayed inside. Another sixty windmills are erected on the grounds with many pumping water.Complementing the water pumping windmills are wind electric machines. Some of these date to the early 1920s. Dominating the windmill grounds is a Vestas V47 wind turbine. This 660 kW turbine stands on a 50-meter tower and provides (on a yearly average) all of the power required by the museum facility. Excess energy is sold to the local power grid.Make American Wind Power Center part of your personalized Lubbock itinerary using our Lubbock journey planning site .
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American Wind Power Center Reviews
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Visited this impressive museum when a friend recommended attending it to see a corvette car show being held inside this large facility. So I got to enjoy some beautiful cars and a bonus of many intere... more »
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I was a bartender for a class reunion at the Wind Power Center, it was amazing, I had never been there and before the party started I got a chance to walk through. There is this giant mural that has a... more »
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Fantastic place. Learn all about windmills, railroads and their importance for all of west Texas. Many full examples of windmills, inside and outside. The model trains are fantastic and they run autom... more »
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This is an amazing museum! We had no idea it was here and it is packed full of things to see. It shows endless examples of windmills from early 1900s models to current designs. Very affordable entrance fees and an afternoon of walking at least! Check out the millstone room for sure.
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Wow! We had a Toyota event at the American Wind Power Center and I didn't know what to expect. I was blown (ha ha) away and loved it. The main exhibition hall is impressive and the mural in the adjacent space is a sight to behold. Come to Lubbock, visit and you will really enjoy a special treat. Wind power is fascinating and has a deep history in West Texas. Loved it and taking my family there in the next few weeks.
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Great place to visit. So many to see, loved the doll houses and trains. Also the windmills!
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Growing up in West Texas windmills are associated with one thing: water. But this museum shows the many other uses of harnessing the wind for mechanical/kinetic energy. There are 2 levels which allows you to get close to the upper "business" end of the windmills. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth and variety of their collection as well as the manner in which it is displayed.
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Fun and educational stop on a long road trip. Kids raced several model trains that run all around the warehouse. Miniture town and large display of dollhouses thrilled our girls. Massive mural was gorgeous and we loved getting up close to the huge windmills.
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