NationalCowboy & WesternHeritageMuseum-A Look Inside the Western Heritage of Oklahoma
The state of Oklahoma is well known for a long and varied western heritage. That heritage is memorialized forever in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, located in Oklahoma City. Visitors have the opportunity to encounter more than 28,000 American Indian and Western artifacts and art works as well as an extensive collection of western and rodeo exhibits. Established in 1955, the museum was originally constructed in order to honor the west and the era of the cowboy. Today, the museum is one of the premier facilities in the U.S. dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the American Western heritage.
Covering more than 200,000 square feet, the museum contains an impressive collection of western art. In total, there are more than 2,000 works of art contained in the museum. The works of art include portraits, landscapes, sculptures and still lifes; all of which were created under a western theme. Just a few of the artists whose work is contained in the museum include Solon Borglum, Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Remington, Charles Marion Russell, Robert Lougheed, Charles Schreyvogel and Thurmond Restuettenhall.
A variety of different galleries comprise the museum. In the American Cowboy Gallery visitors have an opportunity to learn more about the life as well as the traditions of a working ranch and the cowboy. The American Rodeo Gallery offers a variety of different displays, all of which are contained inside a 1950s style rodeo arena. Inside the Native American Gallery, visitors will have the opportunity to view a wide range of everyday objects that were commonly used by Western tribes. More than one hundred types of firearms are on display in the Weitzenhoffer Gallery of Fine American Firearms, including firearms produced by Sharps, Smith & Wesson, Remington, Colt, Marlin and Winchester.
In addition to the various different galleries, the museum is also home to Prosperity Junction. This 14,000 square feet display is a replica of an authentic Western prairie town as it would have appeared at the turn of the century. Visitors will have the chance to take a stroll down the historic streets, look inside period style stores and even walk through completely furnished buildings. Once a year historical figures make the town come alive during the annual open house held during the holiday season.
The area around the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is full of family activities including Remington Park, the Omniplex Science Museum and the Oklahoma City Zoo.These are great family attractions and you’ll want to find hotel accommodations near this area.Great rates can be found on HotelsCombined.com.
