February 10, 2022
NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM
1700 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
“The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, with more than 28,000 Western and American Indian art works and artifacts. The facility also has the world's most extensive collection of American rodeo photographs, barbed wire, saddlery, and early rodeo trophies.” - Wikipedia
This museum was everything I thought it would be and more. Want to know about the life of cowboys in the wild west? This museum has artifacts and displays showing all the aspects of their lives. Want to explore different homes of Native Americans? This museum has authentic replications of four or five different tribe housing. Enjoy western movies or television? This museum has tributes and artifacts from actors old and new. Fan of the sport of rodeo? The National Rodeo Hall of Fame is housed here. Like Western art? This museum has a wonderful collection, including some of the most famous names in Western art.
I really enjoyed the art collection. There were some contemporary pieces, including a piece I thought was the best exhibit in the whole museum. There were also exhibits of C.M. Russell and Frederick Remington, along with many other notable artists.
On first glance the Pueblo village was quite impressive, however, when I got closer, I found it was only a façade. I was hoping to explore some of the rooms of the village, but I guess I’ll have to visit a real Pueblo village to do that.
I would put this museum on a list of must-see sites of Oklahoma City.
A cast of End of the Trail by James Earle Fraser.
Statue honoring John Wayne, who was a member of the museum's board of directors.
Statue honoring Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Homestead Act into law which permitted unhindered ownership of farmland in the West.
Gone Fishin', 2021; Greg Beecham, Artist; Oil on Linen. My favorite piece of art in the museum.
Spring's Caprice, 2007; Curt Walters, Artist; Oil
Teller of Tales, 2002; Martin Grelle, Artist; Oil
Buffalo Bill
Pueblo facade
"Her remark that he seemed to be a born knitter and ought to devote his whole time to it might have seemed invidious to a sensitive cowman," 1918' Dean Cornwell, Artist; Oil on Canvas. The Saturday Evening Post, May 11, 1918.
An exhibit showing how tattoos have been used in different cultures over time.
Some of the Native American bead work.
The Signal Glass, 1916; Charles Marion Russell, Artist; Oil on Canvas. I love the colors Russell uses in his painting.
The Mountain Man, copyright 1903, cast no. 45, 1918; Frederic Remington, Artist, Bronze
Coming Through The Rye, copyright 1902, cast no. 14, 1918; Frederick Remington, Artist; Bronze. There was a life-size version of this statue in the outside garden, however, the lighting was not conducive to me getting a good picture of it.
The Charge on the Sun-Pole, circa 1890; Frederic Remington, Artist; Oil on Board.
The Last Drop, 1903; Charles Schreyvogel, Artist, Bronze
The room housing Frederic Remington's art work.
Royal Family, 2016; Tom Palmore, Artist; Acrylic, Oil on Canvas.
At the Pow Wow, 2012; Paul Moore, Artist; Bronze. This was my second-most favorite piece of art in the museum.
What would a western heritage museum be without a display of guns.
Part of the tribute to the western tv and movies. Here they honored Gunsmoke, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, and Gene Autrey.
Tribute to Walter Brennan.
Part of the tribute to John Wayne.
The room honoring the U.S. Military with a large emphasis on the U.S. Calvary.
A mock western village.
Of course, I had to take a picture of the school house.
This was different, a photography shop on Main Street.
Inside the livery stable.
The Rodeo Hall of Fame
A display of saddles, trophies, and other rodeo awards.
The Rodeo Hall of Fame.