National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas
Established	1975
Location	1720 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Type	Hall of fame

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas, is a special place. It celebrates amazing women from the American West. The museum was started in 1975. It honors women who showed great bravery and were pioneers. This museum is also a learning center. It has cool exhibits, a library, and a collection of old photos. Every year, new women are added to its Hall of Fame.

Inside the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

About the Museum

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame celebrates women of the American West. It shares their stories and achievements. The museum first opened in 1975. It was in the basement of a library in Hereford, Texas. In 1994, the museum moved to Fort Worth. Then, on June 9, 2002, it moved into its own building. This building is about 33,000 square feet. It is located in the Cultural District of Fort Worth.

As of 2013, more than 200 women have been honored. New women are added to the Hall of Fame every year. These honorees come from many different areas. They include pioneers, artists, businesswomen, and ranchers. Rodeo cowgirls and educators are also honored. Famous women in the Hall of Fame include Georgia O'Keeffe and Sacagawea. Others are Annie Oakley, Dale Evans, and Sandra Day O’Connor.

Museum Design

Work on the museum building began on February 22, 2001. The building was designed to fit in with other nearby historical places. It also aimed to create a lively new home for the museum. The design allowed for future growth of the museum's collections. The building's style matches the Will Rogers Memorial Center nearby.

The outside of the museum is made of brick and stone. It has cool decorations shaped like wild roses. These are glazed in bright colors. There is a large painted mural and carved panels. These show scenes from cowgirl stories. They also share messages like "East Meets West."

Inside, the museum is easy to explore. It has spaces for special events. Besides offices, there are three gallery areas. There is also a theater and hands-on areas for kids. A research library and a gift shop are also part of the museum. A tall, domed room holds the Hall of Fame exhibits. Two grand staircases lead to overlooks. They have cool art deco railings. The floors are made of a special French limestone. Western themes are found everywhere. These include native flowers and horse heads.

Museum Exhibits

The museum has many exciting areas to explore. These include the Spirit of the Cowgirl Theater. There are also Lifetiles murals and the Discovery Corral for children. You can also visit the Cowgirl Shop. A large gallery hosts changing exhibits.

The permanent galleries include:

• The Hall of Fame Honoree Gallery: This gallery features one honoree from each category. These categories include Champions, Ranchers, Entertainers, Artists, and Trailblazers.
• Into the Arena: This section is about women in rodeo and trick riding. It also features modern horsewomen like jockey Julie Krone. You can find interactive computer displays here. There are also rodeo items, clothing, and saddles. One display shows rodeo fashions. Visitors can use a touch-screen to learn more about outfits. You can even try a fake horse that moves like a bronc riding horse. Your "ride" can be recorded and made to look like an old rodeo video.
• Kinship with the Land: This area focuses on ranching. It shows old gear like saddles and women's clothing. You can see split skirts, pistols, and sidesaddles. Kids can even saddle a model Shetland pony. There are also displays with children's chaps and 4-H ribbons.
• Claiming the Spotlight: This gallery shows how cowgirls are seen in movies, TV, and music. It has old dime novels. It also features entertainers who played cowgirls. These include Barbara Stanwyck and Patsy Montana. There's an old-time theater with a film about cowgirls in media. You can also listen to music by country and western women performers. Visitors can even pose for a movie poster!

The Rotating Exhibit Gallery has shown many different exhibits. Some past exhibits include "Donna Howell-Sickles: The Timeless Image of the Cowgirl." Another was "Georgia O'Keeffe and the Faraway: Nature and Image."

A 1915 photo by Walter S. Bowman of Bonnie McCarroll falling from a horse. This photo is part of the museum's collection.

Hall of Fame Honorees

Many amazing women have been honored in the Hall of Fame. Here are some of them:

See also

• List of museums in North Texas