About

THE COWGIRL VISION:

The Cowgirl vision is to become the premier destination that ignites passion and instills pride in the pioneering spirit of women who shaped the West. We strive to be a dynamic hub of inspiration and learning, where the powerful stories of cowgirls, both past and present, resonate deeply with people of all walks of life.

 

THE COWGIRL MISSION:

The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring and celebrating the incredible legacy of women who shaped the West. We seek to inspire and educate our diverse community by showcasing the contributions of cowgirls throughout history, fostering a deeper appreciation for their influence on culture, society, and the spirit of independence. Through engaging exhibits, innovative programs, and community outreach, we strive to empower future generations to embrace the values of courage, resilience, and authenticity.

The Museum Board of Directors is proud that significant progress has been made in identifying and honoring women of color in the Museum’s Hall of Fame. However, more progress is needed. Consequently, the Museum will remain diligent in its efforts to seek out and honor Black, Indigenous, and other women of color, past and present, whose stories have been underrepresented in the history of the West.

WHAT: The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women from around the world who displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit in their trailblazing efforts to shape the West. It includes interactive exhibit galleries that feature artifacts of the permanent collection, exhibit gallery, gift shop, a research library and archives. Currently, the museum’s archives house more than 4000 artifacts and information about more than 750 remarkable women.

WHEN: Started in 1975 in the basement of the Deaf Smith County Library in Hereford, Texas, the Museum and Hall of Fame moved to Fort Worth, Texas, in 1994 and opened the current structure in 2002.

WHERE: The 33,000 square-foot National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is found on the Will Rogers Memorial Complex located in the heart of Fort Worth’s Cultural District, which is also home to the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and the Amon Carter Museum.

WHO: The 261 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honorees include pioneers, artists, writers, entertainers, humanitarians, business women, educators, ranchers and rodeo cowgirls including: Sacagawea, principal guide for the Lewis and Clark expedition; painter Georgia O’Keeffe; potter Maria Martinez; writer Laura Ingalls Wilder; sharpshooter Annie Oakley; Enid Justin, who created the multi-million dollar Nocona Boot Company; Hollywood icon Dale Evans and U. S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

Museum Architecture

World-class teams designed and constructed the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame – entirely appropriate for the stories contained inside. Designed by David M. Schwarz, the exterior style is cowgirl  — from wild-rose finials and bas-relief sculpture panels to a Richard Haas mural and hand carved panels. Central spaces, indoors and outdoors, allow for after-hour events under the Texas stars.

In 2015, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame began renovations of the galleries and public spaces. The renovation was completed in two phases, starting with the first floor. Renovations of the first floor were completed in July 2015, which included the Grand Rotunda mobile, the Anne W. Marion Gallery, and the Hitting the Mark: Cowgirls and Wild West Shows Gallery which highlights those women who were immensely popular during the heyday of wild west shows, like Annie Oakley.

The $5.5 million renovation of its second floor began in early 2018 and was reopened in March of 2019. The second floor contains the Kit Moncrief Galleries, of which the It’s Never Just a Horse™ exhibition examines the partnership between people and horses, particularly the Museum’s Honorees. The interior spaces were designed by the Paris architect firm, Projectiles. Two immersion rooms, the Western Design Room and the Bucking Bronc Room complete the second floor experience, including an interactive project table created exclusively for the Museum by Ideum.