Regional Museum Alliance Tails n Trails Museum

The Tales ‘n’ Trails Museum [TNTM] based in Nocona, Texas is a beacon for North Texas history. Nell Ann McBroom is the Executive Director and Head Curator of the TNTM museum. McBroom’s great-grandfather was the founder of Nocona, so it made sense when a committee was formed to begin planning and conceptualizing the TNTM, to ask McBroom to join the committee. That was in 1994 and McBroom has been with the museum ever since.

Planning and raising funds took place between 1994 until 2010. After the planning and funding took place, the museum was purposely built to house the museum’s artifacts and exhibits and opened its doors to guests in 2010.

McBroom is the only paid employee at the museum, but she says the museum has about 50 or so volunteers to help out. The main building has about 6,000 square feet of space to display artifacts and exhibits, with another barn out back of the museum that has another 9,000 square feet of space displaying artifacts. McBroom said there is a frame shop in the barn where the museum builds custom frames for the museum, or custom orders for the public.

McBroom commented on why she enjoyed working at the TNTM. “Well, we’re losing history every day and it’s got to be preserved for future generations. It’s really interesting because we get stuff in here nearly every week that people find, that you know, tell us more about heritage of Nocona and the region.” Visiting local museums in your area are a great way to connect with the history you live in.

The main building of the TNTM has five main areas that include: Native American Culture, Western Heritage, Agriculture, Leather Goods and Oil and Gas Industry. The TNTM is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays by appointment. Cost for entry is $10 for adults, $5 for children and seniors and first responders are free. The TNTM is located at 1522 E Highway 82 in Nocona, Texas. For more information, please call 940-825-5330 or visit talesntrails.org.