Historic downtown library to be transformed into new Amarillo museum

The Santa Fe Historical Railway Museum (SFHRM) is embarking on a new project to repurpose the historic Potter County Library building, located on the downtown courthouse square in Amarillo, into a museum and community center. This move marks a significant shift for the organization, which has been seeking the right opportunity to establish a permanent presence in the area.

"We've been looking for the right opportunity for our organization for a while," said Scott Metelko, the executive director of SFHRM. "This one came up, and it's a bit of a sidestep for us as an organization, but I wanted to pursue it because I think it will help us build our capacity for fundraising and putting together a project like this."

The decision to take on the Potter County Library project comes after several setbacks in the museum's original plans. Last year, SFHRM pursued the idea of establishing a museum at the historic Amarillo Depot, but the city ultimately decided against it. More recently, efforts to acquire the Roundhouse property, currently owned by BNSF Railway, were also unsuccessful. Despite these challenges, Metelko emphasized that the organization's long-term goal of creating a train museum is still very much alive.

"We're absolutely going to do the train museum," Metelko said. "This is just something that's achievable in the short term. The building is in good shape structurally, so it doesn't require major renovations, and we can move forward with it relatively quickly."

The historic Potter County Library building, which has been vacant for nearly a decade, presents a unique opportunity for SFHRM to create a space that not only honors the past but also serves the community in new ways. Metelko outlined two primary concepts for the building's future use. The first is to establish a Welcome Center and Museum, offering visitors a place to learn about Amarillo's history and plan their visit. The second concept involves using the building as a public relations asset for Potter County, hosting events centered around county services.

"The public and community meetings are really going to drive the direction we take with this project," Metelko said. "I've had a couple of different concepts in mind, but ultimately, it's about what the community wants and needs."

The building's history adds to its appeal as a potential museum site. Constructed in the early 1920s, the library was originally intended to be more than just a place for books. "The county commissioners and the county judge wanted something that was a little bit more tourism-focused than just a library," Metelko noted. "And that's exactly what we're trying to do."

SFHRM plans to retain elements of the building's past while adapting it for its new role. Metelko acknowledged that while the building's size is relatively small — less than 5,000 square feet — it offers enough space for a meaningful exhibit focused on the history of Potter County or the courthouse square. However, the project will require community input to determine the exact scope and content of the exhibits.

"When you start looking at the history of Amarillo and the development of the Panhandle, it's clear that the railroad played a significant role," Metelko said. "So there will definitely be some railroad content, but we don't want to focus exclusively on that. The story of Amarillo is much broader, and this museum will reflect that."

Metelko also sees this project as a potential bridge to realizing the organization's dream of a larger railroad museum in the future. "This museum will allow us to bring people in and show them the kind of thing we're talking about," he explained. "It's a lot easier to show someone something than to tell them about it, and this project will help us build the capacity and relationships we need to make the larger project a reality."

Amarillo's lack of history-focused museums is something Metelko hopes to change. "There is a reason why there's not a single history museum in Amarillo," he said. "But we're going to do everything we can to change that. Museums are an important part of a community's identity, and they provide a place where people can learn about where they come from and who they are."

As for staffing the new museum, Metelko acknowledged that it will be a challenge, but he has some ideas. "One of the things we're looking at as a revenue generator is offering tours — tours of the historic courthouse, the courthouse grounds, and other walking tours around downtown," he said. "That will help with staffing, but until we know exactly how the space will be used, we won't have a clear picture of our staffing needs."

Metelko encourages community members to get involved in the project by attending the upcoming community meetings or reaching out to SFHRM directly. "The best way to have a say in this project is to come to the meetings and share your thoughts," he said. "We're also planning to launch a membership drive later this year, so people can support us and stay informed about our progress."

For Metelko, this project is more than just a museum — it's a way to build momentum for the organization and establish credibility with the community. "One of the criticisms I've heard is that our organization has been around for a long time and hasn't accomplished much," he said. "This is our chance to show what we can do and build the relationships we need to take on bigger projects in the future."

The first community meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium on the 11th floor of the Santa Fe building. For more information or to RSVP, contact Scott Metelko at scott@amarillodepot.com .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Historic downtown library to be transformed into new Amarillo museum