For Release: Tuesday, February 6, 2018
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Undergoing Interior Renovations
Second Floor Remodel Opening Spring 2019 to Feature Undeniable Bond Among the Horse, Women, and the West.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 5, 2018) – The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame unveils plans for a $5.5 million renovation of its second floor beginning February 5, 2018. As the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage in their trailblazing efforts, the extensive renovation will enhance its mission by exploring the special bond among the horse, women, and the West, as viewed through the lens of many Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honorees. The second floor will be closed from February 5th, 2018 to Spring 2019, when the new galleries are set to open.
The Museum has changed cases and altered two smaller galleries within the second floor but has never undertaken a comprehensive renovation of this floor since it opened in its current Fort Worth location in 2002. This project provides the 33,000 – square foot, two-story Museum the ability to augment visitor experience as well as increase educational programming. This second floor renovation marks phase two of a Museum-wide renovation plan that began with the first floor, completed in 2015.
The renovated second floor will be named the Kit Moncrief Galleries in honor of Kit Moncrief, Board President, and in recognition of a generous gift given in her name. “Since the Museum moved to Fort Worth from Hereford, Texas in the early 1990’s, Kit has been the board president and has guided the institution, helping it grow every step of the way. Her involvement and leadership has been, and is, vital to the Museum’s success, and we are honored that she will be recognized in this way,” said Patricia Riley, Executive Director.
The Kit Moncrief Galleries will be largely given over to the new It’s Never Just a Horse exhibition which takes on the idea of the horse and the horse itself, as the springboard to talk about those women who are shaping the West and changing the world. The expansive gallery will pay homage to the undeniable link among the horse, women, and the West. The upper floor will feature five thematic “islands” examining the many partnerships of women and horses, with multiple interactive ports to research additional information. These thematic islands will be placed against a backdrop of the wide-open spaces of the American West. Objects will be displayed amongst the exterior and interior of the islands, and – from time to time – the gallery lights will dim and visitors will be surrounded by horses coming from every direction, seemingly entering the gallery space with them. The Cowgirl’s popular, interactive bronc ride will continue to anchor one end of the gallery.
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame has engaged Projectiles, an international architect team based in Paris, France to design the new galleries. This same team is responsible for the design of the new Hitting the Mark: Cowgirls and Wild West Shows gallery and the stunning two-story mobile located in the rotunda.
Due to the extensiveness of this renovation, all artifacts have to be removed and conditioned, walls must come down, and the entire second floor must be gutted and rebuilt. The first floor of the Museum which includes the Hitting the Mark: Cowgirls and Wild West Shows gallery, the Anne W. Marion gallery, the Shop at the Cowgirl, the dynamic two-story mobile, and the film lounge will remain open to visitors throughout construction. Admission prices to view the first floor during this transition phase will be as follows:
Adults – $5.00
Group rate – $5.00
Student rate – $3.50
Seniors – $5.00
To keep up with the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame renovation process, visit www.cowgirl.net, and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NCMHOF, Twitter at www.twitter.com/cowgirlmuseum, and Instagram at www.instagram.com/cowgirlmuseum. The first floor will still be available for event rental at a discounted rate.
Check out our Second Floor Renovation FAQs
About the Projectiles
Projectiles is a young architecture firm located in Paris France, made up of two architects and an interior designer. They emphasize practices that stand alongside fields of art and architecture. They interplay between these disciplines, allowing them to probe the codes underlying their profession and to achieve the ultimate goals of their activity.
The firm has worked on projects at The Center of The Arts and Culture of Lebanon in Beirut, Lebanon, and The National Museum of Nancy, France. Most notably, they were principles on The Gallery of History of “Chateau de Versailles,” in France in 2013, and the “Jean-Paul Gaultier” exhibition seen worldwide including Dallas, Madrid, and London.
The firm’s accolades include the 2006 New Album of Young Architects from the Ministry of Culture; 2nd place in the International Design & Communication Awards of New York for the Jean-Paul Gaultier exhibition; and special mention for design of the French Pavilion in 2014.
About the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors and celebrates women, past and present, whose lives exemplify the courage, resilience, and independence that helped shape the American West, and fosters an appreciation of the ideals and spirit of self-reliance they inspire. The Hall of Fame’s purpose is twofold: to preserve the history and impact of western women living from the mid-1800s to present day, and to foster an appreciation for their ideals and spirit of self-reliance. These women are the legacy of legends — artists and writers, champions and competitive performers, entertainers, ranchers (stewards of land and livestock), trailblazers and pioneers. The Museum is considered an invaluable national educational resource for its exhibits, research library, rare photograph collection, and award-winning distance-learning programs for grades K-12 and adults.
Located at 1720 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, the Cowgirl is open Monday (Memorial Day to Labor Day) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. During the renovation, our discounted rates are as follows: admission is $3.50 for children ages 3 to 12 and $5 for senior citizens (60+) and adults (ages 13+). For more information, please visit www.cowgirl.net or call 817.476.FAME (3263).
Contact: Lina Betts, 817.509.8969; LBetts@cowgirl.net
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