Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum facts for kids
| Established | 1967 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | December 12, 2009 |
| Location | Branson, Missouri |
| Type | Western and American Indian |
The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum was a special place in Branson, Missouri. It celebrated the lives and careers of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. They were famous stars from radio, movies, and television. The museum was open for many years, from 1967 until 2009. It was located in three different places during that time.
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About Roy and Dale
Roy Rogers was known as the "King of the Cowboys." He was a very popular singer and actor. Dale Evans was his talented wife and co-star. She was known as the "Queen of the West." They starred in many Western movies and a popular TV show together. They were loved by millions of fans.
Museum's Beginning
Roy Rogers got the idea for a museum in 1938. He visited the Will Rogers Memorial and noticed it had few personal items. Roy decided to start collecting his own special things. He wanted to share them with his fans. After he retired in the 1960s, he put his collection on display.
Special Museum Treasures
Two of the most famous items in the museum were very unique. One was Trigger, Roy Rogers' amazing horse. The other was Bullet, Roy's loyal dog. Both Trigger and Bullet were preserved using taxidermy. This allowed visitors to see them just as they were.
Moving the Museum
The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum first opened in Apple Valley, California. This was its original home. In 1976, the museum moved to another city in California. It relocated to Victorville. The museum stayed in Victorville for 27 years.
Moving to Missouri
Roy Rogers passed away in 1998. Dale Evans passed away in 2001. After their deaths, the museum moved again in 2003. It moved from California to Branson, Missouri. The museum remained in Branson for six years before it closed its doors.
Museum Closes and Items Sold
The museum faced financial difficulties. This happened during a time when the economy was struggling. Roy and Dale's family decided to close the museum. Its last day open was December 12, 2009.
Auction of Treasures
Most of the museum's collection was sold at an auction. This happened in July 2010. The sale brought in about $2.9 million. Trigger, Roy's horse, and Bullet, his dog, were bought by a TV network. This network was called RFD and was based in Nebraska.
The Autry National Center also bought many important items. These included old newspaper clippings and programs from the Rose Parade. They also got items from the Roy Rogers Show. Sheet music and a rare plastic saddle used on Trigger were also acquired.
Another special item sold was Roy Rogers' 1964 Pontiac Bonneville car. It sold for $254,500. Roy's tailor had decorated this car in a very unique way. It had silver dollars, chrome-plated pistols, and horseshoes. It also had miniature horses and rifles. Many of these decorations were actually working parts of the car. They served as door handles, switches, and controls.
