In 1975, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame got its start in the Texas Panhandle town of Hereford, near Amarillo. As the only museum in the world dedicated to the women of the American West, it gained repute in the nearly three decades that followed before moving its operations to Fort Worth in 2002. Today, the museum continues to celebrate the lives of important female figures on the Western frontier by offering an extensive permanent collection, special exhibits, and interactive educational experiences.
Take the time to view an introductory eight-minute film in the Spirit of the Cowgirl theater. Then venture into the Hall of Fame, where you can learn about some 200 Western women through short bios, photographs, and videos.
Among the museum’s highlights are the Into the Arena gallery, which tells the story of life on a horse, and Arena Style, which showcases the fashion statements rodeo cowgirls have made over the years. Guests can also be recorded as they hop on a (slowly) bucking mechanical bronco, and the video is then sped up and made to look like footage from an old rodeo.
The Kinship with the Land exhibit pays respects to the rougher side of Western life with artifacts and images of women working on the ranch. Kids love the hands-on activities at the Connie Reeves Discovery Corral. Claiming the Spotlight highlights women who captured the minds of Americans through television, movies, and music, with Hollywood memorabilia, Western novels, and jukeboxes loaded with music by famous female country artists.