National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Jesse Stahl was born in the early 1880s in Tennessee. Later in life, he would move to California and become one of the best rodeo stars in the state’s history competing as a saddle bronc rider and steer wrestler. Stahl invented “hoolihanding” where you jump onto the back of a bull from a horse to bring it down.

Stahl placed at or near the top of several major rodeos including New York, Pendleton, and Salinas. He was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979.
📸1: RC2006.116
📸2: 2005.047.08
📸3: RC2008.018.2
📸4: RC2008.018.3

Riding into the New Year like...

#2024

Howdy, folks! The Museum will be closed tomorrow, New Years Day.

We'll see you on Tuesday, January 2 at The Cowboy 🤠

"We had a really early start and got to see the sun come up over the historic Laureles colony. It was mostly cloudy, but the clouds broke long enough for us to see the skies light up, if only for a brief moment."

Make sure to come see "King Ranch: A Legacy in Art; Paintings by Noe Perez" before it closes on January 2, 2024: https://bit.ly/3RDr0Fl.

📸: Laureles Headquarters Camp House (Laureles). Noe Perez, 2019, oil on canvas. King Ranch Inc. Collection.

This photograph of Ellen Elliot Jack was taken around 1914 and her story is quite interesting! Born in New Lentern, Nottingham, England, in 1842 she traveled to the United States in 1860 aboard the “James Foster.” She met Charles E. Jack on the ship, and they were married in New York.

Charles became a Captain in the Union Army during the Civil War. The couple would welcome four children, only one of whom survived childhood. Charles passed away in 1872 due to health complications. After losing three children and her husband, Ellen decided to head West after placing her surviving daughter in the care of her sister-in-law.

Ellen adopted the name, “Captain Jack” from her husband when she arrived in Colorado. First, she landed in the Rocky Mountains and opened a boarding house to generate income for herself. From this money she was able to join a partnership in the Black Queen Mine between Aspen and Crested Butte.

In 1903, she was living in Colorado Springs operating tourist rental cabins and a curio shop for tourists. She loved telling stories of her life in the ‘wild west’ and showing off her pets which included donkeys, cats and parrots. Some people didn’t believe all of Captain Jack’s tales. Soon, another woman in town opened some tourist locations which eventually took a lot of Captain Jack’s business. The fatal blow to her operation was a torrential flood which washed out the roads to her tourist cabins. She lost all of her business. Captain Jack passed away on June 16, 1921.

To learn more about Ellen Elliot Jack’s story you can read her autobiography, “Fate of a Fairy or Twenty-seven Years in the Far West” which she published in 1910.

You can see other photos like this in the archives in the Dickinson Research Center at The Cowboy!
📸: RC2008.017.4

Daniel Webster Wallace also known as “80 John” was a successful ranch owner alongside his wife, Laura in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. They owned 8,820 acres in Mitchell County, Texas and amassed an estate worth over a million dollars. Wallace used the most up-to-date practices on his ranching operation.

You can learn more about Daniel Webster Wallace and other Black cowboys in “Black Cowboys: An American Story” on exhibition at The Cowboy through January 2, 2024: https://bit.ly/48AS3YX.

“The hoop dance has taught me that you keep moving forward no matter what. Sometimes a hoop might fall and a design may fall apart. But you pick up those hoops, you keep going, and you keep dancing. No matter what, as hard as life gets, you’re going to still be able to jump through that hoop.”

Learn more about Jasmine Pickner Bell’s story more in the exhibition "Women in Wyoming: Portraits and Interviews of Women Who Shape the West" on display now through January 2, 2024. Learn more about Lindsay Linton Buk's project here: https://bit.ly/47U6kzh.

Working cowboy fashion has evolved over the years, but one thing remains the same. It HAS to be functional. A cowboy's clothing protects them from the weather, brush, thorns and more.

Cowboy clothing typically has a distinct western look. You might see a cowboy donning jeans, boots, chaps, a long-sleeve shirt and a cowboy hat. Each piece of gear serves a purpose!

Blue jeans were invented in 1873 by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis. Many cowboys wore Levi jeans for several years before other makers entered the market.

The first pair of Wrangler jeans was worn in 1947. They had a high waistline with higher pockets. These jeans also had the first zipper fly!

We think Howe and Dee looks pretty good in their blue jeans!

Howdy, folks! The Museum will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

We'll see you on Tuesday, December 26th for lots of Western fun 🤠

Looking for a fun and warm way to spend your Saturday? Come find Howe and Dee! They're hiding in the Museum somewhere... While you're here grab a Kids Guide, color a picture and look at all of our current exhibitions!

We've got something for everyone in the family to enjoy at 🤠

WANTED: Howe & Dee for holiday mischief!

The elves are still causing mischief around The Cowboy... Can you help find them? Let the people at the Guest Services desk know where they are, and you'll get a reward!

While you're there check out all of our awesome membership options! Memberships help support our mission to preserve the history of the West and you get some pretty cool benefits.

Learn more about membership options here: https://bit.ly/3NA2BPZ.

“Katsusuke Fred Morohashi, was born on February 13, 1919, in Spreckelsville, Maui. He served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, which was deployed to Oran, Africa before taking part in the invasion of Italy and landing on the beaches of Salerno in September 1943. He received the Combat Infantry Badge and Distinguished Unit Badge for his service in World War II.”

Pawnee soldier, Brummett Echohawk drew this picture of Morohashi on May 20, 1944. If you look closely, you will see that Morohashi also signed the portrait.

You can view ledger art by Brummett Echohawk, a Pawnee Soldier in the American 45th Infantry Division, on exhibit now at The Cowboy. Here is an excerpt from one of the pieces you will see from "Nations at War! Field Sketches of a Pawnee Warrior" on exhibit through April 28, 2024.

📸: PVT. Freddie Morohashi. Brummett Echohawk, 1944, pencil on paper. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. 2021.02.21.

Did you know that William F. Cody, better known as "Buffalo Bill," challenged a group of butteri (Italian cowboys) to a bet in the 1890s? 🤠

Buffalo Bill's Wild West show was touring Europe in 1890 and made a stop in Naples, Italy. Buffalo Bill met Onorato Caetani, a local duke and prince. The two men began debating who had the better horsemen - the Italians or the Americans.

In March 1890, the two groups met on the outskirts of town to test their skills. Who the winner was depends on who you ask.

To this day, the Americans and the Italians each insist they won! It has definitely become a part of local legend in the Maremma traditions of Italy.

You can view photos of modern-day butteri in "Italy's Legendary Cowboys of the Maremma, Photographs by Gabrielle Saveri" on exhibition at through May 5, 2024. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3s3QTWl.

📸: Buttero, Pitigliano, archival pigment print, 2016. 13” x 19,” © Gabrielle Saveri. All Rights Reserved.

Howe and Dee have been watching all of the riders on our new PBR interactive exhibit! They said they were going to walk down the hall and give it a try themselves... Better hold on tight, Howe and Dee! This is the toughest sport on dirt 🤠

NFR Edition 🤠
Photos from the Dickinson Research Center:
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📸: 81.023.15975
📸: 81.023.17911
📸: 81.023.28706
📸: 81.023.28810-07
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📸: 81.023.28814-12A

Howdy, folks! The Museum will be closed to the public tomorrow, December 15, for a private event. We’ll see y’all on Saturday 🤠

Did you know that one in four cowboys during the cattle drive era was Black? “Black Cowboys: An American Story” explores the lives and work of the numerous Black men, women and children – enslaved and free – who labored on the ranches of Texas and participated on cattle drives before the Civil War through the turn of the twentieth century.

This powerful exhibition features artifacts, photographs and documents depicting the work and skills of Black cowboys. “Black Cowboys: An American Story” offers insight into legendary cowboys, a clearer picture of the Black West and a more diverse portrait of the American West.

Be transported through time to meet a variety of real Black cowboys and appreciate their deep impact on American History. Discover how they tamed and trained horses, tended livestock and rode on the trail with thousands of cattle across America.

"Black Cowboys: An American Story" will be on exhibition through January 2, 2024, at 🤠

Howe and Dee wanted to make sure the cows in their herd were branded!

Cattlemen use brands to distinguish their herds from one another. Branding irons come in all shapes and sizes - some use numbers, letters or shapes. You can visit our American Cowboy Gallery to learn more about the history of branding! 🤠

Looks like we caught Howe and Dee sleeping on the job... Wakey wakey, it's time for eggs and bakey - y'all don't want to keep Cookie waiting!

Yeeeeehawwwww! Howe decided to give bronc riding a go in our American Rodeo Gallery. Good luck 🤠

Learn more about the history of rodeo and each individual event in the Main Arena of our American Rodeo Gallery!

We were deeply saddened by the news yesterday of the passing of our friend Harold Holden, or as we all affectionately called him, H. As a rancher and horseman, H lived the life he so beautifully captured in his work as a Prix de West artist for nearly 30 years. He was the first Oklahoma artist to be inducted into our Hall of Great Westerners, which is fitting considering he sculpted the Wrangler award presented to all inductees. Our Museum, the state of Oklahoma and the entire Western community have lost a true cowboy. He will be greatly missed.

Howe and Dee tried to help our preparators install our newest exhibition but couldn't quite get the hang of their Bosch GLL 30 Self-Leveling Cross-Line Laser. Silly elves.

We're so excited "Italy’s Legendary Cowboys of the Maremma, Photographs by Gabrielle Saveri" opens tomorrow! Make plans to come see it and try to find Howe and Dee while you're here! 🤠

G.I. Joe from the Oklahoma National Guard Museum paid Howe and Dee a visit this morning!

Did you know we currently have an exhibition, "Nations at War! Field Sketches of a Pawnee Warrior" at ? Come view ledger art drawn by Pawnee warrior, Brummett Echohawk during World War II through January 21, 2024.

Howe and Dee took Cowboy Santa's advice and visited our new interactive exhibit, the "Code of the West," to learn how to stay out of trouble. They wanted to share them with you too!

Come visit and add your picture to the "Code of the West" wall. Choose your Code, pick three attributes and take a photo! You will be added to the wall and have an option to receive a digital version to share on social media. Don't forget to tag us! 🤠

Looks like Howe and Dee are still in Elf Jail in our Prosperity Junction... Deputy Marshal called Cowboy Santa about their poor behavior, and he said they'd be getting coal in their stockings if they didn't start acting right...

Cowboy Santa reminded Howe and Dee about the importance of the "Code of the West" and doing the right thing even when nobody is watching. We'll have to wait and see if the elves learned their lesson!

We sure had a great time last night at the Cowboy Christmas Ball! We hope you'll make plans to join us next year! 🤠

Howdy, y'all! Thanks to your help, Deputy Marshal was able to track down Howe and Dee!

He gave them a stern lecture for stealing the bubblegum gold and said they had to spend some time in Elf Jail in our Prosperity Junction for their bad behavior...