Amarillo Texas History

It is believed that early Spanish Explorers discovered the area and dubbed the canyon "Palo Duro" which is Spanish for "hard wood" in reference to the abundant mesquite and juniper trees.  The Clovis and Folsom people first resided in the canyon and hunted large herds of mammoth and giant bison. The Apaches, Comanches, and Kiowas arrived later.

Crossing the high plains in 1541, Francisco Coronado was the first European to see the vast open spaces, and was followed by cattlemen and sheep herders.

The settlement originally was called Oneida, it would later changed its name to Amarillo. In 1893 Amarillo had earmarked itself as one of the world's busiest cattle shipping points.

South of Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle is Palo Duro Canyon State Park made up of of 16,402 acres. In the 1930‘s, young men and military veterans went to Palo Duro Canyon to develop road access to the canyon floor as well as to cabins, shelters, and the park headquarters.

The Helium Centennial Time Columns Monument is seen in Amarillo as a commemoration to the 100th anniversary of the discovery of helium. Amarillo has been the key location related to helium since the government purchased the helium-rich Cliffside Gas Field in 1927.