American Wind Power Center, Lubbock, TX

Using wind for power is not something new for this generation. Wind power has been producing electricity and water for years and the American Wind Power Center at 1701 Canyon Lake Dr, Lubbock, TX 79403 celebrates this heritage. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm all year long. They also have hours on Sunday from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm May through September and they are always closed on Monday. The museum doesn't charge an admission, but a donation of five dollars a person or ten dollars for a family would be greatly appreciated. There is staff on hand to answer questions and there is also very informative signage on the exhibits.

Guided tours are available with an appointment; at least five people are required for a tour. Cost of the tour is five dollars a person and can be scheduled through the museum office. School tours are encouraged and cost three dollars per student with teachers, chaperones and bus drivers getting in for free. There are more than one hundred windmills at the American Wind Power Center.

Windmills help develop more than two thirds of the western United States and between the mid 1800's and the early 1900's more than seven hundred companies produced windmills. Today there are only two companies that manufacture windmills although with increasing demand there could be more someday. There aren't very many windmills that still exist from those early days, but visitors to the American Wind Power Center will see some of them. Otherwise guests can only learn about these early power sources from pictures and books.

The majority of the windmills that make up the American Wind Power Center came from a private collection in Nebraska owned by Don Hundley. Ms. Wolfe, an ardent follower of preserving this rich monument of history persuaded Mr. Hundley to sell the collection that now resides in Lubbock, Texas. There were forty eight windmills, one hundred and seventy one weights, fifty six pumps, models and photographs purchased from Mr. Hundley. Ms. Wolfe worked tirelessly to find a permanent place for the exhibit and in 1997 the City of Lubbock offered the section of land that the windmills are on today. Ms. Wolfe suffered a stroke and died before the first windmill was placed on the land.

The American Wind Power Center has on the premises the WindSmith Academy which is an educational institution. They have classes periodically that last for two days and cover the basics of wind power and let the students actually climb the fifty meter Vestas wind turbine tower. This is a beginning introduction to wind power that can be continued with formal training at a college or university.

There is a store that sells Wind Power Science Kits, a Wind Turbine Recipe Book, Wind Energy Basics Book, DVD's and Solar Turbine Model. They also sell gifts, clothing, jewelry, metal art, posters, spinners, windmills and other educational aids. A visit to the American Wind Power Center is a step back in time and a step ahead in time for today's world.