Western museums bring our past alive for today’s and tomorrow’s generations.

1. United States Marshals Museum

(Fort Smith, AR)

 

“We are Cherokee: Cherokee Freedman and the Right to Citizenship” is on display this year at the museum. It explains the story of people who were enslaved by Cherokees and were forced into Cherokee Removal along with tribal members. Those enslaved individuals were to be freed after the Cherokee National Council voted in February 1863 to release them, but their emancipation was not acted upon until the Cherokee Treaty of 1866. The presentation includes family stories, photographs and artwork. MarshalsMuseum.org

 

2. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

(Scottsdale, AZ)

 

Among the special exhibitions this year are “William Matthews: Decades” featuring the art of the Colorado painter, and “Veryl Goodnight: Sled Dogs in America: Alaska & Beyond.” Opening in October is an exhibition of John Ford Clymer paintings that are part of the Eddie Basha Collection. Ongoing presentations include native American jewelry from the Richard A. Gates Collection and “Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks.”

ScottsdaleMuseumWest.org

 

3. History Colorado Center

(Denver, CO)

 

In addition to its signature exhibit “The Sand Creek Massacre: The Betrayal that Changed Cheyenne and Arapaho People Forever,” History Colorado this year featured “Winter Warriors: the 10th Mountain Division in World War II.” This show provides details about the U.S. Army training at Camp Hale in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, and how those Army soldiers played a pivotal role in the war against the Nazi German Army in the mountains of Italy.

historycolorado.org/history-colorado-center

 

4. Booth Western Art Museum

(Cartersville, GA)

 

The museum presented work of five generations of pottery from Kha’poo Owinge or Santa Clara Pueblo in a special exhibition this year, including the work of Rose Naranjo, Jody, Polly Rose, Susan, Kaa and Tonka Folwell. Another special exhibit was “We the People: Portraits of Veterans in America,” a presentation of large-scale watercolors by Mary Whyte. The veterans represented are from all
50 states.

BoothMuseum.org

 

5. Buffalo Bill Center of the West

(Cody, WY)

 

Chuckwagon dinners cooked in Dutch ovens, live raptor programs and summer youth workshops mean there is something for the whole family. Of course, you can’t go wrong with five museums under one roof! Explore the stories of Buffalo Bill, firearms, Plains Indians, natural history and Western Art. Special retrospectives this year are “Advertising the Frontier Myth: Poster Art of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West,” the photographs of James Bama, and the guns of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West performers. CenteroftheWest.org

 

6. C.M. Russell Museum

(Great Falls, MT)

 

The artwork of Karl Bodmer is on display in “Expedition West: A Journey on the Upper Missouri 1832-1834.” Other exhibits include “Capturing the West: Joseph Henry Sharp” and “Discovering Russell,” a temporary loan from the Montana Historical Society that highlights the friendship been Russell and Malcom Mackay. CMRussell.org

 

7. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

(Oklahoma City, OK)

 

The 150th anniversary of the Western cattle trail is celebrated in a special showcase that opens in mid-September and will be in place through January. At the same time, the museum features artwork by Cheyenne warrior artists who were imprisoned at Fort Marion, Florida, in an exhibition titled “Imprisoned but Empowered.” This shows the diverse nature of exhibits at this stellar location.

NationalCowboyMuseum.org

 

8. Autry Museum of the American West

(Los Angeles, CA)

 

The innovative presentation “Stirs Up the Dust” features work by Wendy Red Star that show images of powwow regalia and how it has evolved from buckskin, feathers and beads to more modern elements like sequins and satin. Other exhibitions this year include “KYDOIMOS: The Din of Battle,” a display from more than 50,000 aerial photographs of the Dugway Proving Ground, located in a remote area of the Great Salt Lake Desert in Utah. A related display is “Out of Site: Survey Science and the Hidden West” that shows how new technology, from drone photography to satellite images, have captured images of military installations and other secretive sites. They are presented with contemporary video and photographic works by Steven Yazzie, David Maisel and Michael Light.

TheAutry.org

 

9. Museum of the Big Bend

(Alpine, TX)

 

“FotoTexas III: People, Places & Culture” presents 50 images juried by E. Dan Klepper. The museum, which recently expanded, also features “Western Beef Cattle,” an exhibition that highlights the history of cattle in the United States through the paintings of El Paso artist Tom Lean. They are on long-term loan from the Dallas Museum of Art and hosted by the Tom Lea Institute. The show and the museum connect the regional histories of 19 communities in Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. museumofthebigbend.com

 

10. Boot Hill Museum

(Dodge City, KS)

 

The Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame, the TV show Gunsmoke, and the cattle history of western Kansas are all featured at this museum. Among the Gunsmoke memorabilia are dresses worn by Amanda Blake in her role as Miss Kitty. You can also visit the Boot Hill Cemetery and take in a show at the Long Branch Saloon.

Boothill.org

 

Cowboys, Indians, Lawmen, Mountain Men and Outlaws

Jesse James Bank Museum

(Northfield, MN): The James gang rode into town, robbed a bank and took off. But the story of their actions still lives on in the collections and interpretation at this museum.

visitclaymo.com/business/jesse-james-bank-museum

 

Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum

(Rawlins, WY): There is a creepy factor to this prison museum, a place I remember visiting when it was still a prison. The annual Halloween tours are good for those who like fright! Learn about the prisoners who played baseball and other aspects of prison life.

WyomingFrontierPrison.org

 

Billy the Kid Museum

(Hico, TX): The Kid is the story here, and as we all know, some folks can never get enough of him.

BillyTheKidMuseum

 

Gunfighter Hall of Fame Museum

(Tombstone, AZ): The weapons, memorabilia and photos of well-known gunfighters are the core of this museum experience.

 

Dalton Defender and Coffeyville History Museum

(Coffeyville, KS): When the Daltons rode into town, Coffeyville put up a defense. Learn about it and other local history at this museum.

Coffeyville.com

 

Chiricahua Desert Museum/Apache Museum

(Rodeo, NM): This museum has living exhibits that include more than 30 species of rattlesnakes. It also displays objects connected to the Mimbres, Apache and Casas Grande tribes.

chiricahuadesertmuseum.com

 

Will Rogers Memorial Museum

(Claremore, OK): This museum has clothing from Will Rogers’s film career, hosts annual events to celebrate his birthday and has regular movie nights.

WillRogers.com

 

Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian

(Amarillo, TX): Comanche clothing, painted buffalo hides and art are on display here.

Kwahadi.com

 

Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum

(Ponca, OK): The Wild West show experience lives on in the 14-room mansion of Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” and Mary Lillie. And you can see bison, longhorn cattle and horses, too.

okhistory.org/sites/pawneebill.php

 

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum

(Waco, TX): This museum is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. It encourages young people to learn about the legacy of the Rangers with a new family reading room and a resurgence in school tours.

TexasRanger.org

 

Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum

(Pawhuska, OK): Rodeo and film star Ben Johnson is the focus of this museum, which has an evolving display of his ranch, rodeo and film activities. BenJohnsonCowboyMuseum.com

 

 

Favorite Western Regional Museums

Museum of the Mountain West

(Montrose, CO): This museum started with one man’s collection and now has 28 historical buildings from Montrose, Delta, Ouray, Telluride and Ridgway.

MuseumoftheMountainWest.org

 

Museum of the Old West dba Old Trail Town

(Cody, WY): Liver Eatin’ Johnson is buried here, and there are buildings from across the Bighorn Basin that are as rustic as they get.

OldTrailTown.org

 

Grand Encampment Museum

(Encampment, WY): Seventeen historic structures, including a stage station, fire lookout tower and two-story outhouse, are part of the collection. New exhibits include dioramas of the 16-mile-long aerial tramway and copper smelter.

GEMuseum.com

 

Pony Express Museum

(St. Joseph, MO): The Pony Express may have run only for 18 months, but the legacy of the mail delivery services is alive and well. Stop in to see where it all started.

PonyExpress.org

 

Legacy of the Plains Museum

(Gering, NE): Located beside the Oregon Trail, this museum includes both trail era artifacts and other historic memorabilia from western Nebraska.

LegacyofthePlains.org

 

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum

(The Dalles, OR): You may not believe it, but in the Pacific Northwest, Bigfoot is the real deal. To highlight the story “We Believe: Sasquatch in the Columbia River Gorge” is on display through the end of this year.

GorgeDiscovery.org

 

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame and Center of Western Heritage and Cultures

(Medora, ND): The cowboys of North Dakota are highlighted in this hall of fame, but you will also learn history of American Indians, rodeo, and ranching.

NorthDakotaCowboy.org

 

National Historic Trails Museum

(Casper, WY): History camps and treks for kids, special events at the center and exhibits including “The Battle of Red Buttes” and “Footsteps to the West” are all good reasons to visit this interpretive center, positioned adjacent to the overland trails.

Nhtcf.org

 

Northeastern Nevada Museum

(Elko, NV): Check out the Bob Chow firearms collection, wildlife dioramas, the art of Will James, Ansel Adams, Edward Borien, William Matthews and other special art exhibits. Big expansion plans are starting for this museum, so keep an eye on it.

museumelko.org

 

Superstition Mountain Museum

(Apache Junction, AZ): Explore the history of Jacob Waltz and the Lost Dutchman Mine.

superstitionmountain

lostdutchmanmuseum.org

 

Finney County Historic Museum

(Garden City, KS): Agricultural development and livestock production are stories told at this museum, along with interpretation about the Santa Fe Trail.

finneycounty.org/170/Historical-Museum

 

Kern Valley Museum

(Kernville, CA): See artifacts from the area ranches, as well as fossils and geological exhibits.

kernvalleymuseum.org

 

Museum of the Yellowstone

(West Yellowstone, MT): Transportation in Yellowstone National Park, the place known as Wonderland, is on display here, along with history of the Hebgen Lake Earthquake of 1959 and the Yellowstone Fires of 1988.

museumoftheyellowstone.org

 

World Museum of Mining

(Butte, MT): See the facilities of the Orphan Girl mine, overlook the pit of one of the world’s largest mining enterprises,and explore buildings related to the mines and the Chinese population of Butte.

MiningMuseum.org

 

Santa Fe Trail Center

(Larned, KS): The Santa Fe Trail is one of the oldest trails of commerce in the nation and this center is a good place to learn about the route that opened in 1821. There are horse-drawn vehicles, artifacts and photographs. A new exhibit this year is “Cowboys of the Silver Screen” which features many of the early Western actors of silent movies.

SantaFeTrailCenter.org

 

Museum of Idaho

(Idaho Falls, ID): The kids can enter an Indian tipi and a settler’s home, while the whole family can learn about the human and environmental story of Idaho here.
MuseumOfIdaho.org

 

Living History Museums

Strater Hotel Tours (Durango, CO): Strater.com

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer (Grand Island, NE): StuhrMuseum.org

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site (Alberta, CA): HeadSmashedIn.ca

Fort Dalles Museum and Anderson Homestead (The Dalles, OR): FortDallesMuseum.org

Fort Concho National Historic Landmark (San Angelo, TX): FortConcho.com

Fort Caspar Museum (Casper, WY): FortCasparWyoming.com

Fort Scott National Historic Site (Fort Scott, KS): NPS.gov

National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum (Leadville, CO): MiningHallOfFame.org

Wyoming Territorial Prison (Laramie, WY): WyoParks.Wyo.gov

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site (Olathe, KS): Mahaffie.org

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Crow Agency, MT): NPS.org/libi

California Trail Interpretive Center (Elko, NV): CaliforniaTrailCenter.org

Donner Memorial State Historic Park Museum (Truckee, CA): www.parks.ca.gov

Old Cowtown Museum (Wichita, KS): OldCowtown.org

The New Mexico History Museum and the Palace of the Governors National Historic Landmark (Santa Fe, NM): NMHistoryMuseum.org

OK Corral Historic Complex (Tombstone, AZ): ok-corral.com

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park (Coloma, CA): www.parks.ca.gov

Gold Bug Park & Mine (Placerville, CA): cityofplacerville.org

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park Museum ( Tubac, AZ): TubacPresidio.org

Tonopah Historic Mining Park (Tonopah, NV): TonopahMiningPark.com

Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum (Carson City, NV): StewartIndianSchool.com

New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum (Las Cruces, NM): nmfarmandranchmuseum.org

Kaw Mission and Last Chance Store Museums on the Santa Fe Trail (Council Grove, KS): nps.gov/places/kaw-mission-state-historic-site.htm

 

Firearms Museums

Cody Firearms Museum (Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY): CenterOfTheWest.org

Museum of the Fur Trade (Chadron, NE): FurTrade.org

J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum (Claremore, OK): TheGunMuseum.com

Woolaroc Museum (Bartlesville, OK): Woolaroc.org

Collector’s Firearms (Houston, TX): CollectorsFirearms.com

Museum of Northwest Colorado (Craig, CO): MuseumNWCo.org

The Firearms Experience (Cody, WY): CodyFirearmsExperience.com

The John Browning Firearms Museum (Ogden, UT): Ogdencity.com

The Charleston Museum (Charleston, SC): CharlestonMuseum.org

 

Editor’s Picks-Museums Not to Miss

Doss Heritage and Cultural Center (Weatherford, TX): DossCenter.org

West Texas Trail Museum (Moorcroft, WY): devilstowercountry.com/museums-culture/the-west-texas-trail-museum

Tales ‘N’ Trails Museum (Nocono, TX): TalesnTrails.org

West of the Pecos Museum (Pecos, TX): WestofthePecosmuseum.org

Hutchinson County Historical Museum (Borger, TX): HutchisonCountyMuseum.org

Fort Smith Museum of History (Fort Smith, AR): FortSmithMuseum.org

Campbell County Rockpile Museum (Gillette, WY): campbellcountywy.gov/2169/Rockpile-Museum

Three Rivers Museum (Muskogee, OK): 3riversmuseum.com

Days of 76 Museum (Deadwood, SD): DeadwoodHistory.com

Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum (Bisbee, AZ): bisbeemuseum.org

Nevada Northern Railway Museum (Ely, NV): NNRY.com

Bishop Museum (Bishop, CA): BishopMuseum.org

Yuma Territorial Prison State Park (Yuma, AZ): azstateparks.com/yuma-territorial

Sharlot Hall Museum (Prescott, AZ): SharlotHallMuseum.org

 

Territorial Capital Museum & Library (Lecompton, KS): lecomptonkansas.com

Wheels Museum (Albuquerque, NM): WheelsMuseum.org

 

Q&A with U.S. Marshals Museum Curator David Kennedy

Hired as the U.S. Marshals Museum curator of collections and exhibits in 2015, David Kennedy waited eight years before the Fort Smith, Arkansas, museum opened in July 2023. “I would be lying if I did not say there was one point or another at which I was thinking about polishing my resumé,” he says.

But he has settled into the job at the 53,000-square-foot, $50 million facility and took time to talk to True West.

How important is Bass Reeves?

Bass is very important. Did he arrest 3,000 people? No. Did he serve for more than 30 years? No. These are some of the misconceptions we try to push back against when we tell his story. That said, Bass has an amazing story, and his success as a deputy is inspirational.

Why is it important for museums to bring in new exhibits or special events?

There are quite a few people in any zip code who will only ever go to a museum one time. About one-third in any community will never go. If nothing changes, or if there is no event which they see as a draw, these visitors do not see a need to return.

What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in Western history museums since you started out—for good or bad?

Most of the changes have been good. I would put almost any new—1990s or later—museum exhibit up against those from my youth or earlier. The willingness and understanding to tell stories and acknowledge there was more to the West than a man with a gun has been a welcome change.

How much did True Grit get right?

Charles Portis’s novel got a lot right. The movies…well…they’re entertaining, but this area doesn’t look like Colorado or New Mexico.