Museums across the West are combining technology and rich artifacts to create innovative and immersive experiences for visitors who can explore such topics as ranching and rodeo, Native American lifestyle, and how the West has been portrayed in popular culture. The top museums in the West also have historic buildings and expansive collections of material about pioneers, outlaws, lawmen and the early settlers in the West.

• Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
  (Scottsdale, AZ)
  “A Decade of Western Spirit” reflects on the first decade of this museum that also highlighted the color of the West in “A Fistful of Colors” including art by Paul Pletka and George Phippen, jewelry by indigenous artists and a variety of styles from black-and-white photography to impressionist paintings and the Technicolor of classic films. The museum is expanding with new galleries and improved technology and will be offering a wider range of educational programming as well as its changing exhibits and signature permanent collection.
  ScottsdaleMuseumWest.org

 

• Buffalo Bill Center of the West
  (Cody, WY)
  Three diverse exhibits this year appeal to a variety of interests. The special exhibitions included “The Guns of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Performers” on display in the Cody Firearms Museum, “Pop Goes the West,” an exhibition in the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, shows the connections between popular culture and the American West, while “POP!-ular: The West’s Original Pop Culture Icons” shows how icons like Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley were portrayed in media and photographs during their own time. “Fire on the Mountain—Photographs of Wildland Fire Fighting” by Kyle Miller, was up during much of the summer. Miller, a hotshot firefighter, had 31 photographs he had taken of wildfires throughout the West On display. The exhibition highlighted the themes of fire ecology and the human element of wildland firefighting.
  CenteroftheWest.org

 

• Boot Hill Museum
  (Dodge City, KS)
  Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City delivers an immersive experience that brings the Old West to life. Situated on the original Boot Hill Cemetery site, the museum features a full-scale replica of Dodge City’s historic Front Street, complete with period storefronts and saloons. Inside, visitors discover thousands of authentic artifacts, from cowboy gear to historic firearms, all telling the story of frontier life. Daily live gunfight reenactments and the popular Long Branch Variety Show, filled with music, dancing and Old West humor, entertain guests of all ages. The museum offers a vivid and entertaining tribute to Dodge City’s legendary Western heritage.
  boothill.org

 

• National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
  (Oklahoma City, OK)
  Four vignettes including an Indian tipi, barn doors, a covered wagon and a rodeo bucking chute provide an immersive experience for visitors in the new projection-mapped “Find Your West” exhibit. The exhibit has 27 projectors and 768 LED tiles made up of more than 23 million LED lights and representing work from more than 50 people from five different countries. This state-of-the-art addition to the museum’s experience was made possible through generous donations from The Harold Hamm Foundation, Continental Resources and Larry and Polly Nichols. Located in The Cowboy’s West Hallway, the large-scale, floor-to-ceiling exhibit also encircles visitors in Western vistas and tells the story of westward migration.
  NationalCowboyMuseum.org

 

• Blackhawk Museum
  (Danville, CA)
  The Spirit of the Old West gallery weaves the challenges, successes and failures of both Native Americans and American settlers. The museum exhibits include details about the life of the Plains Indians and the settling of the Western Frontier, with exhibits related to mountain men and settlers, plus outlaws and lawmen. Other galleries include the Don Williams automobile collection, a World of Nature exhibit, and other collections related to China and the art of Africa.
  blackhawkmuseum.org

 

• United States Marshals Museum
  (Fort Smith, AR)
  From historic marshals like Bass Reeves to a gallery where you hear stories from modern marshals, the history of the United States’ marshals service is the focus at this museum. The museum holds more than 2,000 artifacts including historic journals and memorabilia from the Western frontier, the Civil Rights era and even the Oklahoma City bombing. Guns and badges are on display.
  MarshalsMuseum.org

 

• Northeastern Nevada Museum
  (Elko, NV)
  The museum delivers a vibrant blend of Western art, regional history and immersive wildlife exhibits. Its Wanamaker Wildlife Wing showcases over 180 lifelike dioramas featuring North American species—bighorn sheep and elk—and exotic African animals, presenting one of the state’s most extensive global habitat displays. Upstairs, visitors encounter the second-largest collection of Will E. James originals, rare portfolios by Ansel Adams and iconic Edward Weston photographs. The museum also houses an outstanding firearms collection, including the Bob Chow collection of early Western-era guns and other historic firearms. Recently, it hosted Adam Jahiel’s platinum-print exhibition, “The Last Cowboy,” featuring about 40 contemporary ranch-hand portraits.
  ElkoMuseum.org

 

• Museum of the Big Bend
  (Alpine, TX)
  “Candelilla Wax Production Along the Rio Grande” has maps and objects that highlight the production of a very fine wax harvested along the Rio Grande. Workers living in transient wax camps lived off the land and gathered the plants which they boiled to harvest the raw wax. They carried their product on donkeys to refining factories that operated until the 1980s, when they closed due to the declining numbers of the candelilla plants. Artwork on display at the museum includes paintings by Fred Darge and Tom Lea plus photographs by Jim Bones and Ron Castle.
  museumofthebigbend.com

 

• New Mexico History Museum
  (Santa Fe, NM)
  “Chimayó: A Tradition of Faith,” explores the history and the enduring spiritual significance of the Santuario de Chimayó’s annual pilgrimage through the lens of photographers Sam Howarth, Miguel Gandert, Oscar Lozoya and Cary Herz. Their work is supported by the collections of oral historians Dr. Enrique R. Lamadrid and Troy Fernández. During Christian Holy Week the Santuario de Chimayó draws the largest religious pilgrimage in the United States as more than 30,000 people make the annual journey to the small adobe church. Many come to obtain the famous healing “holy earth” within the sanctuary. Part of the exhibition is a recreation of the Santuario’s ex-voto rooms, places where pilgrims leave offerings, from paintings and prints of santos to photographs, letters and more personal items.
  nmhistorymuseum.org

 

• Museum of the Fur Trade
  (Chadron, NE)
  Unique and rare fur trade artifacts are on display along with an outstanding exhibit of moccasins from Northern Plains Tribes. One of the rarest items is the oldest known point blanket from 1775. The museum also has firearms once owned by Tecumseh and Kit Carson, and a collection of crop seeds obtained directly from American Indians more than 125 years ago. In the replica dugout trading post on the museum grounds is a collection of trade goods.
  FurTrade.org

 

Cowboys, Indians, Lawmen, Mountain Men and Outlaw Museums

Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center
(Chamberlain, SD) Exhibits show differences in cultural traditions for Lakota boys and girls and provide interpretation of the boarding schools that have been attended by tribal youngsters for generations. 
AktaLakota.stjo.org

Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum
(Pawhuska, OK) Ben Johnson was a top rodeo competitor before he became a film star. This museum tells the story of his ranch, rodeo and movie activities.
BenJohnsonCowboyMuseum.com

Billy the Kid Museum
(Fort Sumner, NM) Two generations of owners have spent their
lifetimes collecting Billy the Kid memorabilia and other Old West relics, and this museum has a bit of everything in its 60,000 artifacts.
Billythekidmuseumfortsumner.com

Billy the Kid Museum
(Hico, TX) Hico celebrates New Mexico’s most famous outlaw, Billy the Kid, in its museum that holds artifacts connected with Billy. And the town has a sculpture of Billy and has held the Billy the Kid Old West Festival.
billythekidmuseumhico.com

Cowboy Arts & Gear Museum
(Elko, NV) Located in what was once G. S. Garcia’s Saddle Shop, this museum has bits, spurs, photographs and other gear used by and collected by cowboys.
cowboyartsandgearmuseum.org

Dalton Defender and Coffeyville History Museum
(Coffeyville, KS) Coffeyville, Kansas, put up a strong defense when the Daltons rode into town. The museum shares this history and more.
Coffeyville.com

Jesse James Bank Museum
(Northfield, MN) The story of how the James gang arrived in Northfield, robbed the bank and quickly fled still lives on in the collections at this museum.
visitclaymo.com/business/jesse-james-bank-museum

John Wayne Birthplace & Museum
(Winterset, IA) John Wayne (Marion Morrison) was born in Winterset, and this museum highlights his early yearsand celebrates his life and legendary movie career.
johnwaynebirthplace.museum

Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian
(Amarillo, TX) The material culture of the Comanches,  like clothing, painted buffalo hides and art, is on display here.
Kwahadi.com

Museum of Indigenous Peoples
(Prescott, AZ) Prehistoric, historic and contemporary examples of Indian cultural and artistic material from the southwestern United States and northern Mexico are on display at this museum located in stone buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Museumofindigenouspeople.org

Outlaws & Lawmen Jail Museum
(Cripple Creek, CO) The 1901 cells in the Teller County Jail are on display at this local museum along with photos of prisoners and sheriffs.
www.cityofcripplecreek.com

Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum
(Ponca, OK) The 14-room mansion of Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” and Mary Lillie is used to tell the story of his Wild West show. On the grounds are bison, longhorn cattle and horses.
okhistory.org/sites/pawneebill.php

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum
(Waco, TX) Texas’ legendary Rangers are celebrated with exhibits and archival collections that tell the stories of Rangers from their inception to today.
TexasRanger.org

Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Site
(Tombstone, AZ) The impressive Tombstone Courthouse is one highlight of this state historic site that also includes the Ed Schieffelin Monument site, located a short distance from the courthouse.
azstateparks.com/tombstone

Yuma Territorial Prison Museum
(Yuma, AZ) Arizona Territory’s first prison still has its original strap iron cells and nearby are buildings that served as a part of the Yuma Quartermaster’s Depot.
azstateparks.com/yuma-territorial

Will Rogers Memorial Museum
(Claremore, OK) Watch a Will Rogers movie, celebrate his birthday or see some of his film career costumes.
WillRogers.com

Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum
(Rawlins, WY) Film production companies have used this prison because it is an authentic structure representing frontier justice in Wyoming. Exhibits include details about some of the more well-known inmates, those who formed baseball teams, and even those who were taken to the “Death House.”
WyomingFrontierPrison.org

Favorite Western Regional Museums

Cave Creek Museum
(Cave Creek, AZ) Sonoran Desert life, archaeology and history are interpreted here with exhibits that focus on the heyday of the Cave Creek Mining District.
CaveCreekMuseum.org

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
(The Dalles, OR) This museum was forced to close and undertake revitalization efforts after the Rowena Fire damaged the grounds in June. Most damage was to the exterior of the museum, though there was minor damage to the Discovery Center building and the raptor enclosures.
GorgeDiscovery.org

Gila County Historical Museum
(Globe, AZ) Programs on hardrock mining and historic baseball games
Encampment area in the 1950s, is the newest major acquisition at the museum. A new film about tribal connections to the area is now in production.
GEMuseum.com

Kit Carson Home & Museum
(Taos, NM) There are many reasons to visit Taos, and the adobe structure that was the home of Kit Carson, is just one of them. A National Historic Landmark, the home interprets the way people lived in the 19th century.
kitcarsonhouse.org

Legacy of the Plains Museum
(Gering, NE) Oregon Trail artifacts and historic items from western Nebraska are in the collection at this museum located beside the Oregon Trail.
LegacyofthePlains.org

Museum of the Mountain West
(Montrose, CO) With 28 historical buildings from Montrose, Delta, Ouray, Telluride and Ridgway, this museum interprets a significant area of Colorado’s Western Slope.
MuseumoftheMountainWest.org

Museum of the Old West dba Old Trail Town
(Cody, WY) Cabins from throughout the Bighorn Basin have been moved here to form a “main street” that makes you think of the best of the Old West movie high noon shootouts. At the edge of “town” is the graveyard where significant historical people, including John “Liver-Eating” Johnston, have been reburied.
OldTrailTown.org

Museum of the Yellowstone
(West Yellowstone, MT) See original Yellowstone coaches and learn about transportation in the first national park, along with geologic displays.
museumoftheyellowstone.org

National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
(Casper, WY) Take a ride on a wagon across the North Platte River, and walk among the “camps” of Oregon, California and Mormon Trail travelers at this immersive interpretive center.
Nhtcf.org

Nevada State Museum
(Las Vegas, NV) The Nevada State Museum at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, extended its exhibit “The Old Spanish Trail: Connecting a Network of Paths,” keeping it in place through most of the summer.
LasVegasNVMuseum.org

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame
(Medora, ND) History of rodeo, ranching, American Indians along with hall of fame cowboys in North Dakota are shared by this center.
NorthDakotaCowboy.org

Pony Express Museum
(St. Joseph, MO) Mail has been carried by reenactors on the Pony Express for decades, but the original Pony Express only ran for 18 months. Learn about the services at this museum, where it all started, in St. Joe.
PonyExpress.org

Sharlot Hall Museum
(Prescott, AZ) History-based youth camps, lectures and exhibits on clothing, are all good reasons to visit Sharlot Hall Museum. Then of course, you might also see our own Stuart Rosebrook, the executive director and acting curator.
SharlotHallMuseum.org

Utah Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
(Ogden, UT) Some of Utah’s top cowboys—like the Wright family—and rodeo queens are celebrated in this museum located in the Union Pacific Depot.
UtahCowboyMuseum.org

Watkins Museum of History
(Lawrence, KS) Among the stories interpreted here are Quantrill’s Raid during the Civil War, and the struggles in Bleeding Kansas. The museum has artifacts and interactives related to the founding of Lawrence.
WatkinsMuseum.org

Living History Museums

Carrizozo Heritage Museum
(Carrizozo, NM)
carrizozoarts.com/1-the-carrizozo-heritage-museum

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

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

Fort Caspar Museum
(Casper, WY)
FortCasparWyoming.com

Fort Concho
(San Angelo, TX)
FortConcho.com

Fort Dalles Museum
(The Dalles, OR)
FortDallesMuseum.org

Fort Wallace Museum
(Wallace, KS)
FtWallace.com

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

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

Old Cowtown Museum
(Wichita, KS)
OldCowtown.org

Rim Country Museum & Zane Grey Cabin
(Payson, AZ)
rimcountrymuseum.org

Santa Fe Trail Center
(Larned, KS)
SantaFeTrailCenter.org

Strater Hotel Tours
(Durango, CO)
Strater.com

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

The Conrad Mansion
(Kalispell, MT)
ConradMansion.com

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

Firearms Museums

Autry Museum of the West
(Los Angeles, CA)
TheAutry.org

Charleston Museum
(Charleston, SC)
CharlestonMuseum.org

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

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

Days of 76 Museum
(Deadwood, SD)
cityofdeadwood.com/historic-preservation/page/days-76-museum

Frazier History Museum
(Louisville, KY)
FrazierMuseum.org

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

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

Nevada State Museum
(Carson City, NV)
CarsonNvMuseum.org

Tombstone Historama and Gunfighter Hall of Fame
(Tombstone, AZ)
www.okcorral.com

Woolaroc Museum
(Bartlesville, OK)
Woolaroc.org

Editor’s Pick Museums Not to Miss

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

Dalton Gang Hideout
(Meade, KS)
visitoldmeadecounty.com/the-dalton-gang-hideout

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

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

Gunfighters Wax Museum
(Dodge City, KS)
visitdodgecity.org/85/Gunfighters-Wax-Museum

Heritage Square Museum
(Los Angeles, CA)
HeritageSquare.org

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

National Oregon/California Trail Center
(Montpelier, ID)
OregonTrailCenter.org

New Mexico Museum of Space History
(Alamogordo, NM)
nmspacemuseum.org

Salmon Ruins Museum
(Bloomfield, NM)
bloomfieldnm.gov/community/page/salmon-ruins-and-heritage-park

Superstition Mountain Museum
(Apache Junction, AZ)
SuperstitionMountainMuseum.org

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

The Journey Museum
(Rapid City, SD)
JourneyMuseum.org

Three River Museum
(Muskogee, OK)
3riversmuseum.com

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

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

Special Callout New Museum  Exhibit

Angel Mounds State Historic Site
(Evansville, IN)

Working with several tribal nations, the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites has completely reimagined the Angel Mounds State Historic Site. The new exhibits explore the origins, use and culture of the mound builders who lived at the site from 800 to 1200. Power of the Mounds a five-screen immersive film has only voices from tribal members including Quapaw, Miami, Osage and Shawnee, who share how they remain connected to a site last occupied more than 1,300 years ago. The story is told through the use of artistic interpretation by tribal artists through pottery, beadwork, textiles and personally crafted arrows. Sculptural elements created by Yatika Starr Fields and Anita Fields also were commissioned for the exhibits.

Candy Moulton is a five-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award for her biographies and documentary films. She was also named True Westerner by True West in 2023. She makes her home near Encampment, Wyoming.