The Annie Riggs Memorial Museum features displays and exhibits depicting the heritage and development of Fort Stockton and surrounding areas in thirteen rooms
and the hidden courtyard. The parlor, lobby, dining room and kitchen are filled with old photographs, collectibles and furnishings.
One of the recreated hotel rooms contains an iron bed that Annie ordered from Sears and Roebuck for $6.75, and shows what a guest would have encountered in 1905. In the kitchen is the first
electric stove in Fort Stockton, purchased by Annie in 1922. Other exhibit areas are dedicated to archaeology, geology, religion, ranching, Hispanic heritage, pioneers, and early businesses. In
the courtyard sits an early 1900's buggy, and the East grounds offer a view of our native Texas garden.
The lobby showcases a desk that originally sat in the 1883 Pecos County courthouse and has quite a story surrounding it. Sheriff A.J. Royal was murdered while
sitting at that desk in 1894, and his bloodstains remain in the drawer. Although no one was indicted for the crime it was a common belief that several prominent Fort Stockton businessmen drew straws
to determine who would kill the controversial sheriff. Five Texas Rangers had been sent to town at the request of the citizens because of a volatile feuding atmosphere leading up to the
1894 election. Royal was not re-elected, and was killed two weeks later. Three of the Rangers were still here at the time. "Who killed Sheriff Royal?" remains one of the great mysteries of
Pecos County.
The museum houses a gift shop with Texana and Western items and an excellent book selection. The two volume Pecos County History books are still available on request.