Grounbreaking by Route 66 (1955) by National Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Chester's vision
It all started with a wild idea from Chester Reynolds, a Lee Jeans executive. Why wasn't there a museum to honor the cowboy, like the men he sold his jeans to at rodeos and ranches around the country?
A groundbreaking ceremony of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center was held atop Persimmon Hill in 1957 with U.S. Highway 66 in the background. The ceremony included members of the original founding committee representing 17 western states.
Finding a Site Along Route 66 (1955) by National Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
On the Mother Road
A competion was held between cities for the host site of what would become "The Cowboy Hall of Fame." One of the reasons Oklahoma City was selected? Because the museum could sit right next to the busy Route 66.
This map, created circa 1955, shows the site along U.S. Highway 66, provided by the City of Oklahoma City for the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center, now called the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The founding museum committee chose the Oklahoma City site out of 46 proposed sites across the American West because of the property's donation and its proximity to U.S. Highway 66.
The Cowboy Museum on Persimmon Hill (1955) by National Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Overlooking Route 66
The site was known as Persimmon Hill. It was empty and tucked away from the developed parts of 1950s Oklahoma City. As you can see in this pre-construction photo, it has views of the city and the famous highway.
Charles Russell at easel working on The Signal Glass (Red Man's Wireless) (1916) by Charles RussellNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Honoring "Great Westerners"
The idea was for the Cowboy Hall of Fame to honor the great people of the American West. The first five inductees into the Hall of Great Westerners in 1955 were Will Rogers, Teddy Roosevelt, painter Charles Russell, trailblazer Charles Goodnight and rodeo star Jake McClure.
Sign Along Route 66 (1965) by National Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Drawing in guests
The Museum's doors didn't open until 1965, but signs like these on Route 66 were key in drawing in visitors from around the country.
Opening Festivities (1965) by National Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
A grand celebration
When opening day finally came, it sparked a day of events and revelry in Oklahoma City, including a parade downtown that drew tens of thousands of people.
John Wayne Helps Open "The Cowboy Hall of Fame" (1965) by National Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
"The Duke" leads the way
At the front of the Museum's opening day parade was the undisputed king of Hollywood's Western stars: John Wayne. Wayne had a close relationship with the museum, eventually donating art and memorabilia from his career.
Museum Open to the Public (1965) by National Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Unique design
The museum building was completed and opened to the public in 1965. More than 250 architects submitted concepts for the museum’s design. The winning design featured an 80,000 square foot building with a multi-peaked roofline intended to simulate tents utilized by early settlers.
This giant relief map, measuring 45 feet by 60 feet, once thought to be the largest in the country, illustrated the migrations of people into the American West through the 19th century and served as a backdrop for an educational auditorium.
This image shows hundreds of visitors at the opening day ceremonies of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1965.
Immersive Exhibitions Now at Museum (2024) by National Cowboy & Western Heritage MuseumNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
The Cowboy in the 21st Century
Today, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum continues to evolve its presentation. The Find Your West Introductory Experience includes state-of-the-art projection on and around custom-built reproductions to provide a one-of-a-kind introduction to the museum galleries.
Route 66 icon
Today, the large sculpture of Buffalo Bill Cody overlooks the section of the historic Route 66 just behind the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Visitors, including those from around the world, travel Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles, stopping in Oklahoma City.
Created by the staff of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
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