Texas Crown Performance Hall Up and Running!

By Gaye Greever McElwain, Director of Marketing and Communications

Back in November I blogged about a three-day tourism assessment in Canadian, TX. I was part of a team of state-agency partners led by the Office of the Governor on a trip to that unique area of the Texas Panhandle. While touring the town’s many historic, cultural and natural offerings we got to check out the renovation of the Canadian Middle School Auditorium. The $6 million dollar project transformed the auditorium, housed in a historic school building, into a state-of-the-arts performing arts facility.

Texas Crown Performance Hall Logo

Well, I just received an email from John McGarr with the Canadian Arts Alliance letting me know the new Texas Crown Performance Hall is up and running. One look at the website shows how the Hall is booked with a variety of performances. There is also information on children’s education, volunteer opportunities and more. The website is still under construction, but soon you will be able to purchase tickets online.

The Texas Crown Performance Hall has a wonderful history. The first building constructed on the site was the Canadian Baptist Academy. Built in 1904, the Academy offered elementary, secondary and college classes. The Academy closed in 1913, three years after the construction of the first public high school in Canadian. The building sat empty until 1919 when it was reopened as an orphanage supported by the local churches. In 1924 the orphanage moved to Tipton, Oklahoma, where it continues today. Later, the building burned and the site was used as a park until 1939.

The present building was constructed in 1939 after fire destroyed the high school. It served as the high school until 1976 when a new high school was constructed. The building was remodeled and converted into the Canadian Middle School, a function it continues today.

Canadian River Bridge

The Canadian Independent School Board and the Canadian Arts Alliance are to be commended for working together to create this outstanding performance hall. The effort also required a tremendous amount of community support. The folks in Canadian are to be commended for working together to make their community such a wonderful place to live and to visit.

Canadian, Texas at Sunset

I really encourage folks to visit Canadian and take in a performance at the Texas Crown Performance Hall. There are plenty of other cultural and heritage experiences to enjoy in that area, so pack up the family and head to the Panhandle.