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National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Oklahoma City's National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum ranks among the big cultural stops on the Oklahoma stretch of a Route 66 trip. Its collections top 28,000 artworks and artifacts of the West and of American Indian cultures, from paintings by Charles M. Russell and Frederic Remington to saddles, barbed wire and rodeo trophies. It sits less than a mile off the old road in Oklahoma City, OK, and deserves an unhurried visit.
What it is
The museum is devoted to the story of the American West and the people who lived it. Its art collection includes a deep group of Charles M. Russell and Frederic Remington paintings, two artists whose work shaped how the West is pictured to this day.
Beyond the paintings, the collections cover the working side of Western life. The museum is known for its very large holdings of American rodeo photographs, early rodeo trophies, saddlery and barbed wire. Together with American Indian works, these fill out a picture of the region that goes well beyond cowboy movies.
A bit of history
The museum dates to 1955 and is run as a nonprofit. Each June it hosts the Prix de West, an invitational art exhibition and sale that ranks among the leading events in the Western American art world. Participating artists sell original works, and the sale raises money for the museum.
Visiting tips
Allow at least two hours; art lovers and rodeo fans can easily spend longer. The museum is listed as wheelchair accessible. It is less than a mile off the old road on the northeast side of Oklahoma City, so it pairs well with an overnight stop in the city.
The Hambrick Botanical Gardens are on the museum grounds, so a garden walk can follow the galleries. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is about 1.2 miles away, and the Oklahoma History Center is about 3 miles away.
Practical info
- Address
- 1700 NE 63rd St.
- Phone
- +1 405-478-2250
- Website
- nationalcowboymuseum.org
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 10–5 · Fri, Sat 10 am–8 pm · Sun 12–5
- On site & nearby
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Where to eat nearby
All diners on Route 66 →
On the map
Full mapNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum with the 6 closest stops and places to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.
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Nearby stops
All of Oklahoma0.0 mi from National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
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1.2 mi from National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
3.0 mi from National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
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4.3 mi from National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
4.7 mi from National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Questions
What does the Cowboy Museum's collection include?
Over 28,000 artworks and artifacts of the West and of American Indian cultures, including paintings by Charles M. Russell and Frederic Remington, rodeo photographs and trophies, saddlery and barbed wire.
How far is it from Route 66?
Less than a mile off the old road, on the northeast side of Oklahoma City.
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