National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Clear, 88°

“Cowboys are gentlemen who treat women with respect and work hard.  They use their manners more than any other man would and ride horse and bulls like there is no tomorrow.” - Anonymous

This was an enjoyable way to spend the morning and afternoon.  We saw just about anything and everything that focused on the Old West.  This period is one of my favorite times in our American history.  For me, the Old West conjures up visions of cattle drives, shoot outs, Indians, and chuck wagon campfires, so it was a pleasure to go through this place that chronicles this time period so well.

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“Cowboy Code”

Founded in 1955, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is Oklahoma City's premier destination for all things related to the American West.  Walking into the entrance, visitors are greeted by a larger-than-life casting of "The End of the Trail," a sculpture by American-born artist James Earle Fraser that depicts an American Indian on horseback. 

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“End of the trail”

It is framed by large glass walls, with fountains outside, giving a beautiful perspective of this work from several angles.

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Fountains

The first video presentation, giving an overview of the museum, was narrated by Tom Selleck.  The gallery chronicling cowboys in movies showcased his (and many other stars’) work in western movies and television shows. 

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John Wayne Statue

More than 28,000 artworks and artifacts compose the museum's extensive collection.  

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Lincoln Statue

Permanent exhibits include the American Cowboy Gallery,

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“Canyon Princess” sculpture

the Native American Gallery,

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Honeymoon at Crow Fair

the Museum of the Frontier West,

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“Coming Through the Rye”

the Fine Firearms Gallery and more.  This facility also houses the world's most extensive holding of American rodeo memorabilia, such as photographs, barbed wire, saddlery and trophies.

This 37 acre museum complex has a huge building with two wings that has 26 different areas and galleries to visit indoors.  Between the East and West Galleries there was a mixture of paintings from the Old Western times and more modern day artists.  The East Wing collection showcases the art of Prix de West winners.

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Buffalo Bill Cody Statue

Outdoors the Jack and Phoebe Cooke Gardens has native plants and ornamental trees amidst sculptures,

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Paint Mare & Filly Sculpture

grave-sites, memorials, a koi pond, and lush surroundings.  

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“Ring of Bright Water”

I particularly enjoyed the American West Gallery which had many works by Remington and Russell.  I was familiar with Fredrick Remington’s sculptures but did not know he was an illustrator and painter before starting his sculpture works.  The Western Performers Gallery which had an incredible amount of memorabilia from TV westerns and movies, and Prosperity Junction which depicted a frontier western town just after dusk at the turn of the 20th century.  It was complete with sounds and electricity on Main Street, kerosene and gas lamps lined the walk through town. You could enter some of the buildings while others were just store fronts.  There is also a theater with continuous running videos.

As much as I liked all that we saw, Maria was disappointed that the Native American paintings that once were a major part of the museum had been replaced by other exhibits.  We found out that they remain in the museum’s collection and are rotated periodically to make room for new exhibits.

In another building, is the Children's Cowboy Coral, an interactive exhibit designed for kids.  Just to give you an idea of the amount of info, the barbed wire display had 1300 varieties in drawers that you pulled out.  Many interactive exhibits were on hand for the kids to sit on saddles, get up on a stagecoach or other fun things.

 The museum is large, so taking breaks helped with legs or back tiring from all the walking.  There was a restaurant on site (reasonably priced) and a wonderful gift shop with many unique items; prints of paintings in the museum collection and copies of Remington’s and other artists’ sculptures. 

Whether you are a fan of the cowboy era or not, it is well worth a visit.  The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and grounds on the rolling hills of northeast Oklahoma City will show you the grit and passion of the Old West during this unique time in American history.