national cowboy & western heritage museum

My partner and I spent over four hours here. The Madonnas of the Prairie exhibition was fabulous. The Ansel Adams exhibition was fabulous. The collection of Charlie Russell paintings is more extensive than you can see in Charlie's museum in MT or at the museum in Cody, WY. The collections of Taos, NM paintings and Remington paintings are excellent. There's Fraser's large, beautiful End of Trail and Lincoln sculptures. There's a gallery of award winning paintings. I didn't even get to the firearms and Native American galleries. The highlight for me was the Western Performers gallery--clothing, hats, boots, guns, props, and possessions from the likes of John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Will Rogers, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and many others. There's an excellent film narrated by Sam Elliott about the history of Hollywood westerns. And there in its glory is Gene Autry's old Gibson J-200 guitar and the Nudie suit worn by Robert Redford in the Electric Horseman. The gift shop is great too. This place is world-class, and like the Smithsonian in that you can't "do it all" in one day. It's the best collection of western art and artifacts on the planet.

Excellent stop. Docents were friendly and helpful. The visit ca take from two hours to all day. here are many fine works of art and sculptures. Exhibits range from women of the WEst, cowboy life, branding irons, ranch life and rodeo. The facility is spotless.

Awesome . Highly recommend that you visit this wonderful museum. It is huge and jam packed with loads of fun exhibits as well as wonderful artwork and serious historical exhibits. Tells of the history of the western movies and much much more.Can't speak highly enough. A must do during your visit to Oklahoma City.

I visited the cowboy museum for the first time with my friend. I really enjoyed the sculptures, exotic paintings and cowboy history. It would definitely be worth a visit if you are in OKC. Although I didn't understand why they had a small section of Vietnam war stuff, since it's a cowboy museum. I guess maybe because of all the Vietnamese in OKC.

If you are in Oklahoma the you must love the western way of life. a look back in time all the best in the best way of life. Visit the graves of some of the best rodeo stock

Surprisingly this is not well advertised in OKC, I thought it was going to be a small mom and pops museum, I was pleasantly surprised, this place is huge, and is truly my favorite thing in the OKC. There are so many things that I loved about this museum, but my favorite is the old west town you get to walk along in the center of the museum, it really brings the old west to life.

We stopped into the museum during our road trip across Route 66. The woman at the front desk was so rude to us that we didn't even go into the museum. We walked right out and go back on the road. Very disappointing.

Another MUST when in OKC. Loved the place. Could have spent hours here! The barbed wire collection and the saddles were the highlights for me.

This is a beautiful museum with excellent displays of paintings and sculptures, plus a broad array of memorabilia from the rodeo, movies and television westerns. The museum building itself is beautiful and well lit, even on the overcast day we visited. Plan on spending in excess of two hours for an overview visit, or plan on making multiple visits. There is a lot to see!

A visit to this museum is a must for anyone who wants to broaden their understanding of the west and southwestern states and their impact on the world. I've watched this place grow from a dusty, ill-kept collection of cowboy bits and bobs to a world class art venue well worth visiting. Fun for the entire family! Watch for the traveling exhibits and don't miss the magnificent murals in the meeting rooms!

This museum is absolutely in immaculate repair. The exhibits are incredible. The docents are so very friendly and helpful. You can easily spend several hours to the entire day there. In addition, they have a wonderful restaurant called Persimmon Hill, that has a fabulous buffet, or you can order off of the menu. DEFINITELY worth the trip!

There is a small section of the museum that is devoted to past rodeo champions etc, but the meat of this museum is the extraordinary collection of western art. This starts with the at least life-sized bronze of Remington's "Comin' through the Rye" outside, continues past the compelling and iconic plaster of paris "End of the Trail" and the huge Wilson Hurley murals of western scenes, so large that the painter could never visualize the entire painting while painting them. Then, you come to the heart of the collection, a large selection of Bierstadt and Remington originals, copious native American art, and past prize winners o the Prix de West. One may come to Oklahoma City with minimal expectations of tourist attractions (after all, the Firefighters' Museum and Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame don't exactly entice you to head for the airline ticket office), but this is world class art in a city that has undergone a dramatic rebound and is rapidly a tourist destination.

If you enjoy art, a different type of art. Cowboys and landscape like nothing you have seen before. Must see the large paintings in the banquet room. The look like they change depending on the light in the room.

I have gone to this museum all my life. My grandfather and another relative were charter members to get it started years ago. It has changed over the years and I will always call it the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Changes are good and new. I recommend it to people visiting or new to the area.

What a great place, this is my second time here and it still amazes me. The collection of western art, the sculpture and the layout are great The western town is fantastic, don't miss it. the rodeo stadium, the tribute to westerns and the cinema is also very well done. But don't miss the outdoor sculptures.