A familiar landmark at Texas Tech is stepping into a new era. The Museum of Texas Tech University has officially rebranded as MaTT, signaling a refreshed identity while continuing its mission of education, research, and community engagement. The name change reflects an important distinction about the museum’s scope, audience, and future.
What MaTT Stands For and Represents
MaTT is an acronym for “Museum at Texas Tech” while the museum’s official name will be Museum at Texas Tech University. The museum has been known as the Museum of Texas Tech University for many years.
Why the Museum of Texas Tech Changed Its Name
It may seem like just semantics, but there is a big distinction between being a museum “of” a university, versus being a museum “at” a university. For those of us who love the museum, we already know that the museum’s scope extends far beyond objects and installations directly related to Texas Tech. But if you weren’t “in the know,” you could easily think the museum was only related to Tech.
This name change helps clarify just how much MaTT has to offer: information, artifacts, and displays that extend into the Earth’s ancient past (read: dinosaur skeletons!), artifacts of native peoples, paintings from European settlers, and even displays about Lubbock’s growth into a city and cultural force.
What the MaTT Has to Offer
The MaTT is a fun, educational, and FREE resource for anyone interested in viewing amazing art, exploring history, and learning more about our heritage. The MaTT also features rotating exhibits on a wide variety of topics. Currently, there are exhibits about the art of guitars, motorcycles, and women’s fashion accessories.
The MaTT is a beautiful thing we have here in Lubbock, and I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this cultural resource. You could also pair it with a trip to the attached planetarium, or a walk-through of The Ranching Heritage Center next door…