Robert E. Howard Museum, Literary museum in Cross Plains, Texas.

The Robert E. Howard Museum occupies a T-shaped white frame house at the junction of Texas State Highway 36 and Avenue J in Cross Plains, Texas. Built around 1919, the house was the family home of Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian. Its rooms hold his father's Bible, a Cleopatra bust Howard bought, original manuscripts, correspondence with H. P. Lovecraft, maps of Cimmeria and his cancelled checks.

The house was built in 1919 as a white wood-frame structure and served as the home of Dr. Isaac Howard and his family, including his son Robert. It received historic designation in 1994 and was later converted into a museum.

The museum displays letters exchanged between Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, showing how closely connected pulp fiction writers of that era were. First editions of works that shaped the sword-and-sorcery genre are also on view.

The museum is open by appointment, so it is worth planning a visit in advance before making the trip to Cross Plains. Each June, the Howard Days festival opens the house to the public and draws fans from across the country.

The original driveway to the house is still in place and is tied to a defining moment in the author's life. For many visitors, this simple feature of the property turns out to be the most affecting part of the visit.