Exhibitions
Kit Moncrief Galleries and It’s Never Just a Horse™ Exhibition
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame reopened its second floor after completing a $5.5 million renovation that began in early 2018. As the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the West who have displayed extraordinary courage in their trailblazing efforts, the extensive renovation continues to explore the special bond among the horse, women, and the West, as viewed through the lens of many Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honorees.
Western Design Room
This immersive room allows the visitor to interact with the Museum’s extensive collection by digitally creating their own boot, shirt or horse which is then projected onto a wall.
Bucking Bronc Room
Test your bronc riding skills on the renovated bronc ride by saddling up! You will be superimposed into real rodeo footage, and you can email or text your clip.
Hitting the Mark: Cowgirls and Wild West Shows Gallery
The Hitting the Mark: Cowgirls and Wild West Shows Gallery displays the historical significance of the cowgirls who performed in the Wild West shows from the 1880s to early 20th century. Visitors will be able to:
- View archival footage projected on several hanging glass screens and colorful images of Wild West posters
- Glass showcases featuring rare artifacts including Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show parade flag, which is preserved by a Tru Vue Optium Conservation Grant from the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation and Tru Vue, Inc.
- Interactive activities for adults and children as well as computer-enhanced archival photographs that uniquely bring the time period to life
- Annie Oakley shares her story in her own words through the magic of cutting-edge technology of Pepper’s Ghost that merged photos of Annie Oakley with a model who posed as her for the interactive
- In addition, her wedding ring, hand written letters, and the one of the shotguns she used while traveling with Buffalo Bill Wild West Show are on display
Legends Gallery
Dare to Wear
June 3, 2022
Dare to Wear celebrates cowgirls of yesteryear and today who keep western wear traditions alive. Whether it is a rhinestone jacket worn to the grocery store or cowboy boots paired with a cocktail dress or gold lamé worn in the rodeo arena, the bold fashion choices of cowgirls illustrate Dare to Wear. This colorful and exciting exhibition features pieces from the Museum’s Honorees as well as outstanding examples of western wear on loan from individuals.
Anne W. Marion Gallery
The Anne W. Marion Gallery opened May 2015. The gallery is named after 2005 Cowgirl Honoree Anne Windfohr Marion in honor of her steadfast support of the Western lifestyle and preservation of Western heritage as well as her patronage of the arts. This space is designed for temporary exhibitions, including honoree and traveling exhibitions, and special events.
Exhibition Rental
Tough by Nature: Portraits of Cowgirls and Ranch Women of the American West
Exhibition of 64 portraits by Lynda Lanker capturing the spirit of women who have shaped the economy and ecology of the West. Additional artifacts available from featured Hall of Fame Honorees available upon request.
Hard Twist: Western Ranch Women by Barbara Van Cleve
Exhibition of 62 black and white photographs celebrating the lives of ranch women from the northern Rockies to the Mexican border. Additional artifacts available from featured Hall of Fame Honorees available upon request.
The Cowgirl Who Became a Justice: Sandra Day O’Connor
This exhibition, celebrating Hall of Fame Honoree Sandra Day O’Connor, demonstrates the intersection of her ranch life and her bench life. It features family and public-life photos, ranch artifacts on loan from the Day family, and selected editorial cartoons.
Past Exhibitions
The Devils – Constance Jaeggi
October 22, 2021 – February 6, 2022
International award-winning photographer Constance Jaeggi uses the Devil’s Horseman, located outside London, as a backdrop for exploring intimacy, connection and power dynamics between horse and human during an unprecedented time of isolation. This raw and intuitive project unveils a fascinating way of life, pulling the curtain back to reveal the behind-the-scenes of the film industry and the danger and ardor of the work that comes with it. The Devils will immerse the viewer into the relationship that exists between human and animal – where the unspoken language of respect crosses all boundaries. Constance Jaeggi moved to Texas from her native Switzerland in 2009 to pursue her degree from Texas Christian University and to begin her competitive cutting horse riding career. Jaeggi has studied at the New York Film Academy and most recently completed a Master of Art History and Art World Practice at Christie’s in London. The Devils is short-listed for the 2021 Critical Mass Awards. This marks her second solo exhibition at the National Cowgirl Museum.
Twelve Mighty Orphans – Behind the Scenes: Laura Wilson
June 6, 2021 – August 8, 2021
Twelve Mighty Orphans – Behind the Scenes: Laura Wilson, featured photography catpured by Laura Wilson and props from the new film by Sony Pictures Classics, 12 Mighty Orphans. Photographer Laura Wilson is an Honoree in the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Her son, Luke Wilson, plays a leading role in the movie, filmed on location in Fort Worth. 12 Mighty Orphans tells the story of the 1930s-era football team from Fort Worth that captured national attention during its Cinderella season. The production filmed in the city in 2019 with support from the Fort Worth Film Commission, a division of Visit Fort Worth. The exhibition is in partnership with the Fort Worth Film Commission.
Tough by Nature: Portraits of Cowgirls and Ranch Women of the American West
February 13, 2021 – March 12, 2021
This exhibition, donated by artist Lynda Lanker, features 64 of Lanker’s drawings, paintings, works on paper and prints, which document a vanishing way of life that affirmed the role of women in the economy and ecology of the American West. Artifacts from Hall of Fame Honorees featured in the exhibition are also on display.
GRA Artifacts & WPRA Competitors
December 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021
Original Girls Rodeo Association memorabilia, the Top 15 Barrel Racers who competed at the National Finals Rodeo, and the Top 15 Breakaway Ropers who competed in the National Final Breakaway Roping were on display in the Anne W. Marion Gallery during the 2020 Wrangler NFR that was in Texas at Globe Life Field.
Laura Wilson: Looking West
October 3, 2019 – October 18, 2020
2019 Inductee Laura Wilson has looked West for most of her life. Her photographic career is firmly planted in this region of America. Her concerns are with the contemporary currents and time-honored traditions of the West. From the Hutterites of Montana to the cowboys of West Texas, from rodeo trick riders to mountain lion hunters and road signs, this collection offers a glimpse into Wilson’s photographic vision. Cover photo: Mullin Cheerleaders, Taffy Watts and Tami Watts, Democrat, Texas, 1995, Laura Wilson
The Trail of the Cowgirl
March 9, 2019 – September 15, 2019
Donna Howell-Sickles, 2007 Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree, was inducted for her artistic work and ability to take the image and idea of the cowgirl beyond charcoal lines and into reality. “My artwork reflects my admiration for the strong Western women of both past and present,” said Howell-Sickles. This exhibition of 21 pieces spans the length of Howell-Sickles career.
Collection of Hermès Scarves
February 12, 2018 – September 1, 2018
Beginning as a tack company for horses in the early 1800’s, Hermès handcrafted harnesses and bridles for carriages in Paris, France. The company eventually expanded and added other items, including scarves. The first scarf was introduced in 1937 and was based on a woodblock drawing by a Hermès family member. Modern day scarves are woven from the silk of cocoons spun by silkworms farmed at the Hermès owned facility in Brazil. All hems are hand-rolled and hand-stitched. Hermès scarves are individually screen printed, and designers have over 70,000 color tones from which to choose. A scarf takes more than 200 people from inception to production including designers, weavers, colorists, and printers. Hermès has over 2000 unique designs; the horse motif is the most popular. Some of the Hermès scarves were designed by Kermit Oliver, who was the only American to ever design scarves for Hermès. The scarves that were chosen for this gallery represent the various partnerships and intersections of the horse, the land, and people. You can find elements of the many ways horses have been viewed as partner, as competitor, as muse, and as simply an object of beauty. This collection is now currently on display on both stairwells leading to our all-new second floor.
Constance Jaeggi: Aspects of Power, Light and Motion
September 29, 2017 – February 4, 2018
In her debut exhibition, artist Constance Jaeggi highlights the horse as a dynamic being by using aspects of light and shadow to both capture a sense of motion and sculpt a scene. Jaeggi photographs horses inside her studio, uninhibited by halters or restraints, which allows her to accentuate the characteristics and personalities of her subjects.
2nd Floor Renovation Preview
June 23, 2017 – September 17, 2017
At the National Cowgirl Museum, we know it’s never just a horse. Come see our preview for our second floor renovation which includes artist Ashley Collins’ large-scale work, Compilation of a Thousand Stories. This work encapsulates the theme of the future exhibition as will be seen when paired with the renovation images. The public is also invited to participate in the exhibit by sending photographs of their favorite horses.
Pure Quill: Photographs by Barbara Van Cleve
November 18, 2016 – May 7, 2017
Barbara Van Cleve, 1995 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree, is nationally known for her photographs of western landscapes, ranchers, cowboys, and cattle women. This newest exhibit of her work includes 37 stunning black and white photographs captured by Van Cleve throughout her career.
No Turning Back: The Art of Veryl Goodnight
July 22, 2016 – October 30, 2016
A retrospective of the work of award-winning artist and 2016 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree Veryl Goodnight. The exhibition features 17 sculptures and 11 paintings by the artist focusing on Western women, horses, and wildlife. The exhibit is the first to display both her sculptures and paintings together and works span the breadth of her career.
Light, Landscape and Livestock: The Photography of Nadine Levin
March 4, 2016 – July 5, 2016
For over 25 years, Nadine Levin has been capturing the beauty of the world that surrounds us through her innovative and elegant photography. Often riding horseback to capture her Western images, she creates a uniquely feminine portrayal of this predominately masculine and conventional world. This exhibition includes photographs from 2007 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree Terry Stuart Forst’s 7 S Stuart Ranch as well as infrared landscape images.
RODEO: Photographs by Rima Canaan Lee
November 20, 2015 – February 7, 2016
Fort Worth photograph Rima Canaan Lee, who was born in Beirut, Lebanon and raised in Hamburg, Germany, was unfamiliar with rodeo culture when she arrived in Texas. She attended the 2013 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo almost daily during its three-week run, photographing whatever caught her eye. The results are two distinct sets of photographs: one of the rodeos, and another of the stock show. Both sets of photographs highlight an event that still carries promise of the American West.
Grace & Grit: Visions of the West by Terri Kelly Moyers
May 29, 2015 – November 8, 2015
Terri Kelly Moyers, 2015 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree, has captured the hearts and imaginations of many through her stunning portrayal of women, landscapes, and wildlife of the American West. This exhibition of 28 paintings shows the wide variety of this award-winning artist’s work.