The Berry History and Science Gallery

Prehistory…

Step back in time to the age of the dinosaur when you enter The Berry Room which houses select portions of the J. Henry and Ethel Ray Artifacts Collection. This vast collection of fossils and native artifacts was uncovered in over twenty-five years of exploring Wilbarger County and the Red River Valley area. The rich and colorful history of Wilbarger County can be traced over 10,000 years ago as evidenced by the artifacts found in this collection.

…to Present Day

Continuing through the Berry Room will lead you through the course of Wilbarger County’s history. Learn about Quanah Parker, the Doan’s family and the annual Doan’s Picnic, the Great Western Cattle Drive, and so much more! The county’s more modern history is recounted in this exhibit as well. The primary source of income for Wilbarger today is agriculture and oil related products, Wright Brand Foods which is now a Tyson Plant, Solvay – a plant which produces items from guar, Vernon Regional Junior College, and a State Hospital.

The Berry Gallery walks visitors through time in an interactive, fun, and educational manner!

M.K. and Louie Berry

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M.K. and Louie Berry made one of the initial gifts that helped build the Red River Valley Museum in its current location in 1985.

M.K. graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1921 and returned to Vernon where he joined the Herring National Bank. During his sixty year career he was president and chairman of the board. His outstanding leadership in many civic and charitable organizations brought him the title of Outstanding Citizen of Vernon in 1965. He was a founding member of Vernon College, Wilbarger General Hospital, and chairman of the Santa Rosa Rodeo. His passion was for raising palomino horses on his Plum Creek Farm and serving as drill captain for the Santa Rosa Palomino Club. Under his leadership they began using drills from VMI and became famous as Vernon’s “Ambassadors on Horseback”.