Nicknamed the “Hub City,” Lubbock is the economic and entertainment hub of the South Plains region of Texas. Home to Texas Tech University and a vibrant arts scene, Lubbock offers visitors plenty of things to see and do.

#	Attraction	Description
1	National Ranching Heritage Center	Outdoor history museum showcasing ranching history.
2	Buddy Holly Center	Museum dedicated to musician Buddy Holly.
3	National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum	Museum exploring Western history and culture.
4	Science Spectrum Museum	Interactive STEM museum with over 165 exhibits.
5	Joyland Amusement Park	Vintage amusement park with rides and games.
6	Charles Adams Studio Project	Gallery and studio space showcasing local artists.
7	Silent Wings Museum	Museum dedicated to WWII US military glider program.
8	National Institute of Wind and Water Science	Educational exhibits on wind and water science.
9	Texas Tech Public Art	Public art collection at Texas Tech University.
10	Lubbock Lake Landmark	Historic site with archaeological remains.
11	Llano Estacado Winery	Winery offering tours and tastings.
12	Buddy Holly Statue & Walk of Fame	Tribute to Buddy Holly and other musicians.

From admiring expansive prairie landscapes to exploring museums, here are 12 of the top attractions and activities in Lubbock, Texas.

Table of Content

National Ranching Heritage Center

Name and Location: National Ranching Heritage Center, Lubbock, TX

History and Significance: Outdoor museum depicting ranching history and culture in the American West. Opened in 1976. Over 50 historic structures.

What to Expect: Historic ranch buildings, livestock, demonstrations of traditional skills like blacksmithing and weaving. Self-guided walking tour.

Visitor Information: Open daily. Admission fee. Guided tours available.

Get an in-depth look at the ranching history of the American West at the National Ranching Heritage Center. This outdoor history museum contains over 50 authentic ranch structures dating from the late 18th to 20th centuries.

Highlights include the Barton House from 1881, the only remaining Southern Plains adobe home, and the expansive 1868 Pitchfork Ranch Headquarters. Costumed interpreters provide additional context. The center also houses galleries and gardens as well as hosting special events like chuckwagon cooking demonstrations.

Buddy Holly Center

Name and Location: Buddy Holly Center, Lubbock, TX

History and Significance: Museum and performing arts center dedicated to 1950s rock musician and Lubbock native Buddy Holly. Opened in 1999.

What to Expect: Exhibits on Buddy Holly’s life and music legacy. Memorabilia like his trademark glasses. Event space and concerts.

Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday. Admission fee.

Music fans shouldn’t miss the Buddy Holly Center, a museum honoring Lubbock’s most influential musician. As the hometown of Buddy Holly, Lubbock celebrates his legacy with exhibits featuring personal artifacts, stage clothes, song drafts and more.

Interactive displays let you record songs and explore a replica of the earliest rock and roll studio. Concerts, workshops, films and lectures related to Holly’s lasting impact often take place at the Center as well. It’s a must for rock and roll lovers.

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

Name and Location: National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK

History and Significance: America’s premier institution of Western history, art and culture. Founded in 1955.

What to Expect: Art galleries, rotating exhibits, cowboy culture and Native American artifacts. Children’s areas. Restaurant onsite.

Visitor Information: Open daily except major holidays. Admission fee.

For a family-friendly introduction to the cowboy way of life, visit the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. This premier museum explores Western history and culture through extensive permanent collections and special exhibitions.

See classic Western art, Hopi kachina dolls, rodeo memorabilia, Native American artifacts, and more. The pros demonstrate real ranching skills during lively horse-riding and roping demonstrations. The on-site Prosperity Junction 1800s-style town also provides living history fun for kids.

Science Spectrum Museum

Name and Location: Science Spectrum Museum, Lubbock, TX

History and Significance: Hands-on science museum with exhibits relating to West Texas. Founded in 1970.

What to Expect: Interactive exhibits on physics, chemistry, space, human body. Educational programs and demonstrations. Omni Theater.

Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday. Admission fee. Reservations recommended.

With over 165 interactive exhibits, the Science Spectrum Museum offers immersive STEM fun for all ages. Kids can explore concepts in physics, chemistry, space, engineering, health sciences and more through hands-on displays.

Family favorites include the bubble lab, gyroscopes, laser light room, and illusion tunnel. An OmniDome planetarium, on-site experiment bar, and seasonal camps expand the scientific adventure. It’s both educational and entertaining for budding scientists.

Joyland Amusement Park

Name and Location: Joyland Amusement Park, Lubbock, TX

History and Significance: Historic family amusement park opened in 1951. Known for wooden rollercoaster.

What to Expect: Rides, arcade, food, games. Family atmosphere and classic park. Seasonal hours.

Visitor Information: Admission fee with rides and attractions individually ticketed. Cash only.

For over 70 years, Joyland Amusement Park has provided thrilling rides and classic carnival fun for Lubbock residents and visitors. Must-try rides include the wooden coaster Roller Coaster and Whip, providing screams and smiles since the 1950s.

There’s also milder options like bumper cars, a carousel, miniature golf and arcade. Tots have their own rides in Kid’s Corral. Joyland’s charm as a locally owned vintage amusement park makes it a beloved summertime tradition.

Charles Adams Studio Project

Name and Location: Charles Adams Studio Project, Lubbock, TX

History and Significance: Nonprofit arts organization providing studio space, exhibitions and education. Founded in 2005.

What to Expect: Contemporary art exhibitions in multiple galleries. Resident artist studios. Classes and workshops available.

Visitor Information: Free admission. Open Tuesday-Saturday afternoons or evenings. Closed major holidays.

This combo gallery, studio space and performance venue celebrates creativity in the diverse Lubbock arts community. The gallery hosts rotating exhibits featuring noted regional artists.

You can browse original paintings, blown glass, metalwork, photography and more from over 100 local creatives. CAP also hosts classes, artist demonstrations and live music in its event space. It’s the perfect primer into Lubbock’s thriving art scene.

Silent Wings Museum

Name and Location: Silent Wings Museum, Lubbock, TX

History and Significance: Museum about the WWII glider pilot training program at Lubbock Army Airfield. Opened in 1997.

What to Expect: Historic exhibits, artifacts, photos, and stories honoring glider program. Recreated barracks and training plane.

Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday. Free admission.

Aviation buffs of all ages soar to new heights at Lubbock’s Silent Wings Museum. Dedicated to the World War II US military glider program, the museum tells the little-known story of gliders’ vital role transporting men and materials into combat zones.

Authentic gliders and artifacts from the era are on display, including the only CG-4A glider remaining today. Other exhibits cover glider pilot experiences through vivid recreations and videos. The Silent Wings Museum provides an in-depth look at an important yet overlooked part of WWII history.

National Institute of Wind and Water Science

Name and Location: National Institute of Wind and Water Science, Lubbock, TX

History and Significance: Facility focused on wind and water research. Part of Texas Tech University. Opened in 2012.

What to Expect: Not a traditional museum, but tours allow visitors to see research labs and facilities. Advance reservations required.

Visitor Information: Free tours by appointment only on select Fridays. Call ahead to schedule.

Texas Tech Public Art

Name and Location: Texas Tech University Public Art Collection, Lubbock, TX

History and Significance: Large collection of public art scattered across the Texas Tech campus. Established in 1959.

What to Expect: Sculptures, statues, paintings, and other artwork integrated into campus landscape. Self-guided walking tours available.

Visitor Information: Free and open to the public year-round. Maps available online. Limited public parking on campus.

Over 100 works of public art dot the Texas Tech University campus, one of the largest campus public art collections nationwide. Notable pieces include massive installations like Starship and Atmosphere by renowned artist Glenn Zweygardt.

Take a self-guided tour using an online public art map to find highlights across campus. The diverse works range from sculptures to murals to architectural details across different time periods and styles. It’s an eclectic outdoor art collection to admire.

Lubbock Lake Landmark

History runs deep at Lubbock Lake Landmark State Historic Site, providing a glimpse into 12,000 years of human settlement on the Great Plains. Excavations have revealed traces of communities from prehistoric hunter-gatherers to an Antelope Creek culture village.

Today you can tour the grounds to see reconstructed pit houses, petroglyphs, and more archaeological remnants firsthand with interpretive trails. The site continues to reveal new artifacts and insights into the Plains’ first inhabitants.

Llano Estacado Winery

Name and Location: Llano Estacado Winery, Lubbock, TX

History and Significance: Texas’ oldest winery, founded in 1976. Known for Cabernet and Tempranillo wines.

What to Expect: Wine tastings, production tours, gift shop. Vineyard views from tasting room. Seasonal events.

Visitor Information: Open daily. Free tastings, tour fees vary. Age 21+ for tastings.

The Llano Estacado region’s high plains terroir lends itself to producing premium wines, as showcased by Llano Estacado Winery. Opened in 1976, the winery offers daily tours and tastings in its Tuscan-inspired tasting room.

Sample award-winning wines like the Viviana Cabernet and Blanc du Bois. Outdoors, stroll through acres of vineyards and relax under the covered veranda. With its scenic setting and top-notch vintages, it’s a refreshing winery escape.

Buddy Holly Statue & Walk of Fame

Name and Location: Buddy Holly Statue & Walk of Fame, Lubbock, TX

History and Significance: Memorializes musician Buddy Holly and West Texas music history. Statue erected in 1980.

What to Expect: Bronze statue of Buddy Holly with guitar. Walk of Fame stars honoring musicians. Photo spot for fans.

Visitor Information: Free and open to the public. Located outside Civic Center.

To admire tributes to Lubbock’s most famous native son, head to the Buddy Holly Statue and West Texas Walk of Fame. The bronze statue captures the bespectacled rock and roller’s energetic stage presence.

Surrounding the statue, the Walk of Fame honors over 60 musicians and artists with West Texas ties with engraved granite stars. Look for icons like Roy Orbison, Natalie Maines, and Waylon Jennings. It’s a landmark celebrating Lubbock’s role in rock, country and the performing arts.

Conclusion

From hands-on museums to historic landmarks, Lubbock provides an array of attractions and activities to keep visitors engaged. Families will appreciate kid-friendly sites like Joyland Amusement Park and the Science Spectrum Museum. History buffs can tour Lubbock Lake Landmark’s archaeological remains and the National Ranching Heritage Center’s authentic homesteads.

Art and music lovers will relish the city’s creative spirit on display at the Buddy Holly Center, Charles Adams Gallery, and across the Texas Tech Campus. With its rich cultural offerings, expansive prairie landscapes, and welcoming spirit, Lubbock makes the perfect West Texas getaway.

Top 12 Things to Do in Lubbock, Texas