American Rodeo Gallery

Before arena chutes were built, when the rider was ready, the horse was let loose on a bucking spree. Bill Stanton on "Sandy" and "'88" That's All, Ralph R. Doubleday, 1916, From the collection of: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum holds the finest and most extensive collection of rodeo memorabilia in the nation, representing the sport from its early development through its golden age.

One of the greatest female rodeo athletes of all time was Tad Barnes Lucas, who won the All-Around Champion Cowgirl six times and took permanent possession of the coveted MGM Trophy in 1930.

The rodeo arena is the ultimate forum for cowboy athletes. They compete in a series of events combining the skills of the working cowhand with the spectacle of the traditional Wild West show.

The rodeo originated as a competition between working cowboys. Ranch worker roping a calf for branding, circa. 1900, From the collection of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Much like saddlebronc riding, tie-down roping is another rodeo sport born from the daily chores of the hard-working cowboy. When ranch hands became prideful of the speed at which they could rope a calf from a horse to brand or medicate, it soon became an informal competition.

Unlike saddle bronc riding and tie-down roping, bareback bronc riding wasn't derivative of the cowboy's work, but instead originated purely as a rodeo exhibition in the 1910s.

Bronc riders were originally left with just the horse's mane or a loose rope. In 1920, the event implemented leather handholds. Red Sublett Leaving "Whiskey Pete" - Frontier Days, Cheyenne, Wyo., Ralph R. Doubleday, From the collection of the National Cowboy & Western Her

Teddy Roosevelt, Gus Nylen going down, Ralph R. Doubleday, 1910, from the collection of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Taken by rodeo photographer Ralph Doubleday at the 1910 Cheyenne Frontier Days, this is believed to be the first picture of a cowboy flying.

This early and extremely rare rodeo trophy belt was awarded to bronc rider Harry Brennan, the “Champion Rough Rider of the World,” at the 1902 Festival of Mountain and Plain in Denver, Colorado.

In the early 20th century, rodeo cowgirls were among the first women in the United States to achieve valid recognition as professional athletes.

Tad Lucas was a headlining competitor in the early days of rodeo and is thought by many to be the first great rodeo cowgirl.  Tad Lucas on "Juarez", Ralph R. Doubleday, From the collection of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.