Amarillo, Texas

1887Railroad Town Founded: Amarillo was established as a railroad construction camp. The name comes from the Spanish word for 'yellow,' referring to the yellow wildflowers or yellow soil of nearby Amarillo Lake.

1918Panhandle Oil Discovery: The discovery of oil in the Texas Panhandle transformed Amarillo into an energy hub, with refineries and petrochemical plants fueling rapid growth.

1929Federal Helium Reserve: The U.S. Bureau of Mines established the helium plant and reserve near Amarillo. The Cliffside Gas Field stored most of the world's helium supply.

1935Dust Bowl Devastation: The Texas Panhandle was ground zero for the Dust Bowl, with massive dust storms burying farms and forcing thousands to flee.

1942Amarillo Army Air Field: The military established a major training facility for WWII bomber crews, bringing thousands of servicemen to the Panhandle.

1951Pantex Plant Operations: The Pantex Plant began nuclear weapons assembly operations, becoming the nation's sole facility for assembling and disassembling nuclear warheads.

1960Route 66 Heyday: Amarillo thrived as a major stop on Route 66, with motels, diners, and gas stations catering to travelers crossing the Texas Panhandle.

1974Cadillac Ranch Created: Artist group Ant Farm buried ten Cadillacs nose-first in a field west of Amarillo, creating one of America's most iconic roadside art installations.

2000Big Texan Steak Ranch Fame: The Big Texan's 72-ounce steak challenge became world-famous, attracting visitors from around the globe to attempt the free meal.

2023Meatpacking and Wind Energy: Amarillo's economy diversified with massive meatpacking operations and wind energy development across the Panhandle.