The history of Van Horn and Culberson County is rich and colorful, and thanks to the handful of dedicated people who founded the Culberson County Historical Society, this heritage will always be preserved for future generations. 

Back in 1963, the idea of creating a museum grew out of a passion for historic preservation. When the county considered demolishing its original courthouse, the society urged the commissioners to save the historic building and turn it into the county museum. Sadly, the courthouse was demolished—a decision many locals consider one of the worst in county history. This loss of history motivated the community to come together and organize a museum to honor Van Horn’s past. 

The society, working hand in hand with the local Garden Club, planned, dreamed, and worked until that memorable day, April 6, 1975, when the Honeycutt House opened. Before she died, Mrs. Kate Honeycutt gave this house (one of the first homes in Van Horn) to the Garden Club with the understanding that it would someday be used as a museum. The museum's dedication took place on October 9, 1975, during Van Horn's Bicentennial Dedication Day. On this day, Rep. James Kaster, Congressman Richard White, and other dignitaries attended the ceremonies at the museum. 

In the late 1970s, the Culberson County Historical Society began negotiations to acquire one of the town’s oldest buildings—the Clark Hotel, also known as the Cox Building. 

On March 7, 1979, the society purchased the vacant Clark Hotel, with the condition that it be preserved as a historic site and museum. The museum was relocated from the Honeycutt House and reopened on May 25, 1980, as the Clark Hotel Museum. 

Since then, the society has been restoring the historic structure, which now holds thousands of items and archives. The museum is packed with relics and mementos donated by locals, many of which were used or found within Culberson County.