Learn About the Incredible Women Who Shaped the West at National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
If you want to learn more about the trailblazing women of the West, you have to travel to the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame in Fort Worth. The only museum of its kind, this place is all about rhinestones, boots, and a whole lot of attitude. Cowgirl magic, y’all! 🤠💎🐎💫
About
The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring and celebrating the incredible legacy of women who shaped the West. Their mission is to “inspire and educate our diverse community by showcasing the contributions of cowgirls throughout history, fostering a deeper appreciation for their influence on culture, society, and the spirit of independence.” Located in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, this museum is the only one in the world that celebrates the grit, guts, and grace of the women who shaped the American West through interactive galleries, immersive exhibits and powerful storytelling. Since opening in 1975, The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame has expanded to house more than 4,000 artifacts and exhibits covering more than 750 remarkable women.
Exhibitions
Anne W. Marion Gallery
This gallery opened in 2015 and is named after 2005 Cowgirl Honoree Anne Windfohr Marion for her dedication to preserving Western history, art, and heritage. This gallery houses both temporary and permanent exhibitions as well as special events. Currently, there are photographs, drawings, paintings, and other historic artifacts of fascinating women to help tell their stories.
Gallery Stair - Collection of Hermès Scarves
In the early 1800s, Hermès started as a tack company for horses, handcrafting harnesses and bridles for carriages in Paris, France. Eventually, they expanded to include other items, including scarves. While Hermès has over 2000 unique designs, the horse motif is the most popular. The scarves on display at the National Cowgirl Museum represent connection and symbolism of the horse, the land, and the people. Simply look up on either staircase leading to the second floor and you will see beautiful scarves up and down the walls.
Hitting the Mark: Cowgirls and Wild West Shows Gallery
This unique gallery displays the historical significance of the cowgirls who performed in the Wild West shows from the 1880s to early 20th century. Here, you can:
Hear Annie Oakley’s story through her own words through the magic of cutting-edge technology of Pepper’s Ghost that merged photos of Annie Oakley with a pre-posed model
Look at Oakley’s artifacts including hand written letters, her wedding ring, and one of the shotguns she used while traveling with Buffalo Bill Wild West Show
Peer into glass showcases housing rare and precious artifacts
View archival footage of shows and Wild West posters.
Participate in interactive activities, like creating your own cowgirl boots, riding a bull, and taking computer-enhanced archival photographs that make it look like you’ve traveled through time!
Soldaderas to Amazonas: Escaramuzas Charras
This special exhibit is the first one at the Cowgirl Museum to exclusively focus on charrería, or the Mexican rodeo. The cultural and symbolic roots of charrería run deep; like the ties between the modern day escaramuza charra to the soldaderas of the Mexican Revolution, those women who assisted in the revolt against oppressive Mexican government forces. Therefore, the escaramuza (the women’s event) is extremely important for this community. The sport of escaramuza consists of an eight-member team of equestrians executing intricate patterns at a gallop. Escaramuza is a way of life for these competitors; there is no large payout at competitions or million-dollar sponsorships.
The exhibit at The Cowgirl Museum includes sombreros, adelita-inspired dresses, rebozos, trajes de charra, boots and matching tack, with changeouts supporting different themes within escaramuza. Since opening the exhibit, The Cowgirl Museum has taken several initiatives intended to support the advancement of escaramuzas:
The first-ever grant specifically for escaramuza teams
The first archive serving as a repository for escaramuzas
An annual ceremony honoring historic women in charrería.
Sponsors awards for the winners of state and national charreadas.
Visitor Information
📅 Open Tuesday - Saturday, 10am-5pm & Sunday 12pm-5pm. Closed on Monday.
🎟️ Admission prices as follows:
Members: FREE
Adults – $10
Seniors (age 65+) – $7
Military and First Responders (with ID) – $7
Children (age 4-12) – $4
Children age 3 and under – FREE
Cowgirl Family Special (2 adults & up to 4 children age 4-12) $28
Combo Ticket: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History: 50% off admission with purchase of National Cowgirl Museum Ticket on the same day
🚗 Parking rates as follows:
0-120 minutes: $6
More than 120 minutes: $12
More than 180 minutes: $15
💻 Website: www.cowgirl.net
Happy travels!!