Wednesday, April 16, 2014

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum


 

If you like cowboys, cowgirls, rodeo's, western movies, or just about anything to do with cowboys, this museum is for you.

This is our second week in Oklahoma City.   Jo's sisters are busy working and doing their own things today, so it was a great chance to visit this "all things cowboy" museum.
 




 


The first things to capture our attention were the huge sculptures scattered around the grounds on the outside of the museum. The fine detail of these works of art make you want to "saddle up" and go for a trail ride.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
Inside the museum,  there are rooms and galleries for every imaginable cowboy theme.

Stop by the theater for a nice film narrated by Tom Selleck.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 
 
 
 




 
Western Heritage Art Galleries feature paintings, sculptures, and drawings,  many of which are by award winning artists. 



 





 
 
  
The Weitzenhoffer collection of Fine American Firearms.



 
 
 
 
 
The American Cowboy Gallery is devoted to the working cowboy. It has an impressive collection of saddles, tack, tools and gear that will amaze you. Check out the slide out trays of barb wire. It's for sure there will be some wire designs you've never seen before.





 
 

 
 
 
 
 
The Native American Gallery is a fine collection of  colorful and intricate designs on clothing, tools, and utensils.



 
 
 
 
 
 
 







 

 
 
 

 
The Western Movie Performers gallery offers star photos and paintings,  movie props and other movie memorabilia.  Also displayed are some of the personal collections of John Wayne.  If you are a movie buff, you can spend quite a lot of happy time here. 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 













The Western Rodeo arena allows you to walk through the chutes during a bronc ride, feel the excitement of steer roping and bulldogging, and the danger of bull riding.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Then you can stroll through the Rodeo Hall of Fame and view the buckles, the rodeo gear, awards,  and learn fascinating facts about Rodeo Champions.



 
 
 
 
 
And round it all up walking through displays of life around a chuck wagon,  the western military, mountain men, and hunting in the early west.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 








In a Hall of Honor you will find busts of famous people in western history and even a bigger than life statue of President Ronald Reagan who loved ranching, and performed in many westerns.



 
  
 
 
The displays and galleries are all first class, extremely well designed, and are sure to please.

And don't forget to stroll through the outside gardens.  There are more huge cowboy sculptures out there.









 
 
 

 
 
 
 




























And, of course, Jo found a display that had a quilt in it........














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