National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City

Jen at entrance in front of the 'End of the Trail' sculpture

As it was Jen and Peter's first visit to USA, we thought it fitting that they should pay a visit to Oklahoma City's National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum to see how the Wild West was back in the days of the early cowboys. It is advertised as a 220,000 sq ft (5 acres) facility (includes gardens) that is a 'living memorial to the indomitable spirit of the West'. We spent several hours in the museum, and also enjoyed the smorgasbord lunch in the Persimmon Hill restaurant within the museum building. 

Jen with Monument Valley Triptych a long way behind her

As we left the restaurant, we wandered into a large room used for special events that holds 1,200 people. On the walls were five different panoramic triptychs (each single section measured 18 feet wide by 46 feet high). They were paintings of the 'American West' by by Wilson Hurley - I really liked the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley ones. Unbelievable. My photos don't do them justice - I only have posted one of them here. The grounds outside are worth a visit too. Murray and I had never been to that particular museum before, and we really enjoyed it.

There is one section that holds a re-created, authentic early Western prairie town - showing how it would have looked back at the end of the 1800's. When you enter the 'town', it is 'twilight' and the lamps are on in the schoolhouse, businesses, hotel etc. From the stables you can hear cowboys talking about their day. In the schoolroom you can hear the teacher asking a child to read out aloud, and asking him to spell a word, and you hear the child reading and spelling just as the teacher has asked. Very well done. I am not into 'art' per se, but I have to say that some of the paintings in this museum were impressive and captured the various elements of the West well. The museum also has a great collection of native American Indian fine art and crafts and celebrates their role in the West. 

Bucking Bronco

Rodeo life was well depicted in a large area that included many displays including a life size bull and a cowboy on a bucking bronco. There were numerous trophies and other paraphernalia associated with rodeos, and the role of the very important rodeo clown was not forgotten. A dangerous job - the clown has saved many a cowboy from a fate worse than death by distracting the bull away from the cowboy, allowing him time to flee to safety over the rails. 

Beautiful Painting Capturing Wagon Train

Another part that I really enjoyed was a short movie documentary made about Western movies - how they started, why they started and the cowboy heroes that were created that we all came to know and enjoy such as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, James Stewart, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and so many more. 

Murray walking back from the huge Buffalo Bill statue 

Peter, Jen and Murray at the Oklahoma Bombing Memorial

Following the museum outing, we paid a more sombre visit to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial which remembers the 168 men, women and children who lost their lives (and those who survived) when the Alfred P. Murray Federal Building was bombed at 9.02am on April 19th, 1995. Such a senseless tragedy.

Chairs representing 168 lives lost in bombing (their bases are illuminated at night)