Young County Museum of History and Culture

05/27/2026

Just a reminder our Law Enforcement Exhibit and Memorial Day Exhibit will be on display until June 30th. Be sure and check them out!

05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day, we pray for the families whose loved ones gave their All for our Freedom.

05/23/2026

Hey, reenactors 👀 we're looking at YOU!

While our staff is working on calling everyone, we decided to make a post to invite you to sign up online! So go ahead and grab your gear and join the adventure to our 19th-century military fort this November!

Sign up right here: https://fs18.formsite.com/TPWD/creogehamd/index

November 13th & 14th, 2026
9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

It's going to be epic ✨ don't miss it!

05/19/2026

Young County Independence Day Celebrating Americas 250th

05/19/2026

Be sure and come to Graham for the 4th of July!!! We are are excited!

The organization, Young County Independence Day, was officially launched to help grow and sustain the county’s Independence Day celebration for years to come.

05/19/2026

The organization, Young County Independence Day, was officially launched to help grow and sustain the county’s Independence Day celebration for years to come.

05/13/2026

On May 16, 1869, WIlliam "Bill" Kutch and Shapley Prince "Shap" Carter were making thier way back to the herd of cattle and drovers located approximately 5 miles southeast of the present location of Olney.

They had been on their guard since finding evidence of recent Indian activity in their area. Bill looked up and spotted a group of Indians, and as he and Carter approached the herd, they could see the drovers and the herd already surrounded by another group of Indians.

Bill Kutch recalled in an interview that they thought about making a run for it, but did not want to leave their friends behind so they rode sttraight through the group of about 50 Indians they had first observed and met their fellow drovers in the center of the
herd, surrounded by Indians.

Up until this point, no one had fired a shot. The cowboys yelled to each other to run for the brush and it became apparent one of the Indians understood English as they made for the protection of the brush at the same time. The Indians would arrive first.

Some of the drovers in the group were William Crow, John Lemley, George Lemley, Shap Carter, Jason McClain, Kutch, J.W. Gray, Henry Harrison, Rube Secris, Joe Woody, and a black man called African Dick, a cook.

At 10:00 AM, as they all broke for cover the shots began to ring out and smoke and arrows filled the air. The drovers, armed with cap and ball revolvers, they were outnumbered and outgunned and were forced to retreat to a small depression on the grassy landscape.

The low area the had found for cover was a small ravine leading to one of the many small tributaries of Salt Creek. WIlliam Crow fell into the small area of cover, already dead from a gunshot wound to the head, and Jason McClain and J.W. Gray were already seriously wounded.

During the next seven hours of battle, most of the party would be wounded in the scant cover they had taken refuge in. George Lemley, John Lemley, Rube Segress, Shapp Carter, and Jim Gray had all been hit twice by gunshots or arrows, and BIll Kutch had been wounded three times. Jesse McClain had been hit once; leaving Henry Harrison, Joe Woody and the African, Dick, the only members not wounded. They had wounded at least five or six of the Indians by their own score and towards five in the afternoon they watched as the tribe had drawn up and could be seen gathered all together, taking orders from what appeared to be a black man.

In a desparate gamble , Captain Ira Graves told all the cowboys who could stand to get up and taunt the Indians. The Indians, having fought an extended battle all day and seeing the apparent morale of the cowboys, decided to break off the battle and leave with the herd of approix. 200 head of cattle and horses.

By the end of the battle, only Henry Harrison was unwounded. He rode off into the night to get help while the others awaited rescue.

By morning, a wagon arrived from the Harminson ranch. Three men, WIlliam Crow, John Lemley, and Shap Carter would die from wounds received in the battle. Two years later, Jason McClain would die from complications from the wounds he had received in this battle.

This is just one of the many battles fought for the land they call Young County and why we are known as the "Deadliest Prairie Crossing in the West."

05/12/2026

05/11/2026

On May 11th, 1846, (180 years ago) President James K. Polk asked the United States Congress to declare war on Mexico, officially beginning the Mexican-American War.

The Congress of Mexico had never recognized Santa Anna's surrender and recognition of Texas as an independent republic because it had been done while Santa Anna was a prisoner and he was acting under duress. They had always considered Texas a province they would retake in the near future.

After the annexation of Texas by the United States, Mexico considered the act of annexation to have claimed Mexican territory.

The war would end in 1848 when the Mexican Congress met in Mexico City (which was occupied by United States forces under General Scott) and would sign a peace treaty (under duress) that relinquished all claims to Texas. Mexico would sell over half of its territory in North America to the United States for $20 million dollars..

05/06/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who came to our First Member’s Sneak Peek for our Young County law enforcement exhibit and our Volunteer Thank You. We were having so much fun, we forgot to take pictures of everyone, but we did get one Cutie admiring the display. We loved the round table visit and look forward to seeing everyone again!