Adult Group Visits 2017 − 2018
Featuring 2017 – 2018 Special Exhibitions, Tours, Themes, “A Date With The Duke” (Feast and Film Option), and Advanced Booking for Spiro and The Art of the Mississippian World nationalcowboymuseum.org
Adult Group Visits 2017 – 2018 The National Cowboy Western & Heritage Museum is America’s premier institution of Western history, art, and culture. Founded in 1955, the Museum collects, preserves, and exhibits an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts while sponsoring dynamic educational programs to stimulate interest in the enduring legacy of the American West. More than 10 million visitors from around the world have gained a better understanding of the West – a region and a history that permeates national culture. The Museum features a superb collection of classic and contemporary Western art, including works by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, as well as sculptor James Earle Fraser’s magnificent work The End of the Trail. The exhibition wing houses a turn-of-the-century town and interactive history galleries focusing on the American cowboy, rodeos, Native American culture, Victorian firearms, and frontier military and Western performers. Outside, beautifully landscaped gardens flank the Children’s Cowboy Corral, an interactive children’s space. From fine art, pop culture, and firearms to Native American objects, historical cowboy gear, shopping, and dining, the Museum tells America’s story as it unfolds across the West. Browse the variety of options and make your reservations at least three weeks in advance. How to Schedule Your Visit Booking now! Reservations are required for all group visits and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission fees, if applicable, are payable on the day of your visit in one lump sum. Phone 1 Call Monday – Friday at (405) 478-2250 ext. 241, three weeks in advance of your desired date and time. Online 2 nationalcowboymuseum.org/grouptours 3
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On-Site Register in person by speaking with a Visitor Services Assistant in the Museum Lobby, Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Docent-Guided Tour Options The Museum’s docents are volunteer tour guides who can facilitate conversations, share insights, and provide your group with fresh perspectives on the Museum’s collections and exhibitions. Signature Tour (The Museum’s most requested tour option) Have a limited amount of time to tour but want to see the “good stuff?” This hour-long Signature Tour gleans the surface of the Museum’s many permanent collections. From works by Remington and Russell, to Native American art, see some of the finest Western art in the country. View ethnographic material from Native Americans to mountain men and learn about frontier military life. Complete the tour with a look at the evolution of the working cowboy to their portrayal in film and pop culture. Walk away with a better understanding of the diverse cultures that shaped the West, but leave time to visit The Museum Store. Camp Fires, Cattle, and Cowboys Commemorate the Chisholm Trail’s 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail (1867 - 2017). After the Civil War, impoverished Texas cattlemen badly needed to get their range cattle to market. In its time, the Chisholm Trail was considered one of the Western world wonders. Herds with as many as 10,000 cattle were driven from Texas over the trail to Kansas. The only economical way was to walk the herds to a railhead, shipping the cattle to the expanding markets in the north. When the Kansas Pacific Railway built rails to Abilene, Kansas, in 1867, drovers blazed a trail to that small cowboy camp and depot, delivering Longhorns to slaughterhouses in the East, stock cattle to the ranges in the North, and beef to the Indian reservations. Explore the Museum’s renowned collection of art and artifacts depicting trail rides and lifestyles of real and mythical cowboys.
Garden Tour (Suggested for spring and fall) Each spring, summer, and fall, the Museum’s trails and gardens feature a plethora of changing plants and flowers native to the American West. This tour offers visitors a chance to connect and learn more about the land from which the West’s story is rooted. Discover the American West‘s majesty in the garden and galleries with a focus on the grandeur of the landscape that has inspired generations of artists.
country in the West.” It seems the men who normally work for Andersen have all left to seek their fortunes in the famed California Gold Rush. Left without any options, and with a bundle of bills to pay, the livestock rancher is forced to consider hiring young boys, ages 9 to 17, straight from the town’s school. Knowing that “cattle driving is no Sunday school picnic,” Andersen is skeptical, even when the boys show up early one morning to volunteer for the job. He puts the boys to a test, and when he witness their determination and horse riding skills, he decides to take them on (2h 14 min, rated PG).
Museum gardens John Wayne in The Cowboys
“A Date with the Duke” (Available any time by reservation) Make a day of it! Combine an exhibition tour and visit to the Western Performers Gallery with a sandwich tray or BBQ lunch or dinner buffet and a private film screening of The Cowboys (1972) in the Museum’s Dub & Mozelle Richardson Theater. $40 per person with a minimum group size of 35. The tour organizer and driver are complimentary. In The Cowboys, John Wayne plays the role of Wil Andersen, a veteran rancher who needs hands for his yearly cattle drive, a tough drive running through 400 miles of “the meanest
We the People: A Portrait of Early Oklahoma August 19 – October 22, 2017 In 1891, Henry M. Wantland and his young family arrived in Oklahoma Territory and settled in Stillwater, a small town born of the Land Run and bustling with opportunity and ambition. He eventually purchased a photography studio and spent the next two decades recording the world around him - not just the people, but the streets they walked, the stores they frequented, the churches they attended, and the progress they celebrated. The diverse and vibrant communities of 3
central Oklahoma emerge from his photographs. In August 2017, the Museum will present a selection of his work from the Dickinson Research Center’s Robert E. Cunningham Oklahoma History Collection. The exhibition will utilize new research to reveal stories and details behind the images. Visitors will meet Fern Lowry and the Sanford West family; encounter Rebekahs and Odd Fellows; enjoy an early example of Photoshop; experience the fun of a carnival and much more. If you have Oklahoma roots, you might even recognize a name or a face - and discover their story is also yours. This exhibition is presented, in part, with support from the Cresap Family Foundation, News Channel 4 (KFOR), and the Dickinson Foundation. On-Your-Own Tour Options You are always welcome to schedule self-guided visits and enjoy the discounted rates for groups. View these outstanding 2017 – 2018 temporary exhibitions. Vintage Black Heroes: The Chisholm Kid July 21 – September 17, 2017 The first Black cowboy to be featured in a comic strip, The Chisholm Kid appeared from 1950 – 1954 in the Pittsburgh Courier’s comic insert. To mark the Chisholm Trail’s 150th anniversary – and to pay homage to the 5,000 – 9,000 Black cowboys who drove cattle along the trail from Texas to Kansas following the Civil War – this exhibition features panels from the original comic strip. Known as the “Lone Fighter for Justice for All,” the namesake hero of The Chisholm Kid was portrayed as a positive Black character equal to contemporaries like Hopalong Cassidy, Dick Tracy, Buck Rogers, and Flash Gordon a full decade before the Civil Rights Movement in America. This exhibition was organized by the Museum of Uncut Funk.
Cartoons & Comics: The Early Art of Tom Ryan July 21, 2017 — April 1, 2018 Acclaimed Western artist Tom Ryan (1922 - 2011), spoke often in his later years about those who inspired him: Rembrandt, N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, and Frank Reilly. Yet, a composition book and a handful of sketches from the Museum’s Dickinson Research Center reveals another influence - cartoons and comic strips. Dating from 1936 to 1945, the small drawings provide a snapshot of Ryan’s high school and Coast Guard years. Original characters Dan the Cop and Joe Campion Jr. spring from his teenage imagination. A member of the track team agonizes on the school paper’s sports page. Ship decks and shipmates are satirized in the South Pacific. Regardless of subject, his creativity, talent, and humor are on full display. They entertained his friends more than 70 years ago. Now a new audience will be in on the joke. This exhibition is organized by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and made possible by The A. Keith Brodkin Contemporary Western Artists Project.
Cartoon. Tom Ryan, circa 1945, drawing. 2002.032.6. Tom Ryan Collection. Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Life and Legacy: The Art of Jerome Tiger August 25, 2017 — May 13, 2018 August 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the passing of one of Oklahoma’s most celebrated artists — Jerome Tiger. Having only painted for five years, Jerome Tiger produced hundreds of works of art and won numerous awards throughout the country. Today, his work is shown in museums across the 4
nation and he is recognized as one of the greatest Native American artists. To honor this anniversary, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum will produce an exhibition of his selected works from the Museum’s permanent collection, celebrating the life and legacy of this remarkable painter. This exhibition is organized by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and is made possible, in part, by News Channel 4 (KFOR).
showcases the best of saddle making, bit and spur making, silversmithing, and rawhide braiding; while the Cowboy Artists of America (CAA) features fine art from members who celebrate the West through painting, drawing, and sculpture. The CAA exhibition is on view through November 26 and the TCAA exhibition is on view through January 7, 2018. Small Works, Great Wonders® November 4 – November 26, 2017 Designed with both new and experienced art collectors in mind, this annual winter art sale features drawings, paintings, sculpture, and mixed media by leading contemporary artists, including Prix de West artists, working in a small format. During the November 10 art sale, purchasers may leave art in hand at the end of the evening. All unsold art will be on exhibition and available for purchase through November 26, 2017.
The Coming Weather. Jerome Tiger (Muscogee/Seminole), 1967. The Arthur and Shifra Silberman Collection, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. 1996.27.1013.
Cowboy Artists of America 52nd Annual Sale & Exhibition Traditional Cowboy Arts Association 19th Annual Exhibition & Sale Opening October 7, 2017 In one of the most significant events to impact the fine art world, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosts the Opening Weekend event and sale for two outstanding exhibitions. The Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA)
Rock Newcomb, The Building Inspector, 9" x 12"
Unlocking the Vault: Mysteries and Marvels of the Museum February 9 – May 13, 2018 Museums typically exhibit only a very small percentage of their collections. In the vast holdings of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, there are pieces that, for one reason or another, are rarely on view. This exhibition presents a variety of items that have seldom been “out of the vault,” and gives the visitor a unique look at why, what, and how museums collect. This Left: Bit by Wilson Capron (detail). Right: Phil Epp, Hilltop, Acrylic, 60" x 60"
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exhibition is organized by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Looking for Something Different? Call us and we will work together to develop a special program that meets your needs.
Opening February 2019 Spiro and the Art of the Mississippian World February – May 2019 Spiro and the Art of the Mississippian World is the first major exhibition ever produced on the Spiro Mounds, and shares the Spiro culture’s history (800 CE - 1450 CE) from its humble beginnings to its rise as one of the premier cultural sites in all of North America. The Spiro people, and their Mississippian peers, are nearly forgotten in the pages of North American history, yet they created one of the most exceptional and highly developed societies in all of the Americas. Featured in the exhibition are nearly 300 objects from museums and collections across the United States. This project is produced with the support of the Caddo Nation and the Wichita Affiliated Tribes. Organized by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the exhibition will travel nationally.
The Museum Grill The Museum Grill can prepare a Sandwich Buffet Lunch for groups of 20 or more. Reserved seating is available. With advance notice, a hot Signature Lunch is available for groups of 30 or more. The tour organizer and driver are complimentary. To make arrangements, call the Museum’s Visitor Services Manager at (405) 478-2250 ext. 241. The Museum Grill is open Monday – Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., and closed on Sunday.
The Museum Grill
The Museum Store The Museum Store has an expansive selection of Western apparel and accessories, genuine National American-made jewelry, a robust book collection, and so much more. Find just the thing to remember your visit to the Museum. Shop online at store.nationalcowboymuseum.org.
Group reservations available now with a non-refundable partial payment. Call the Visitor Services Manager at (405) 4782250 ext. 241 or email sstrain@nationalcowboymuseum.org.
Engraved Birdman Figure, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. 18/9121, Shell.
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The Museum Store
Photography Non-flash, hand-held cameras are permitted in designated areas, some galleries, and in the gardens. Look for camera images, selfie stations, and signage during your visit. Share Your Experience #MyWest Join the conversation. View images uploaded by other visitors at instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum. Wheelchairs & Strollers The Museum is accessible to individuals with limited mobility. Free manual wheelchair and stroller loans are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pets Trained guide and service animals are permitted in the Museum and on Museum grounds. Museum Hours Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, Noon – 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Day How to Schedule Your Visit Booking now! Reservations are required for all group rates and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission fees, if applicable, are payable on the
day of your visit. Call the Visitor Services Manager at (405) 478-2250 ext. 241 or email sstrain@nationalcowboymuseum.org, three weeks in advance of your desired date and time. Group Size A minimum of 15 paying adults is required for group rates. The tour organizer and driver are admitted complimentary. Group Admission Rates Taxable rates are as follows: Adults – $10.75 Seniors 62 and older – $9.25 Tax exempt prices are available upon request. Payment must be made in one lump sum for everyone in the tour group. Cash, check, charge, or purchase order are accepted. Coupons cannot be used with the group rate. Canceling a Visit If you must cancel a tour, please contact or leave a voicemail message with the Visitor Services Manager at sstrain@nationalcowboymuseum.org, or (405) 478-2250 ext. 241 within 24 hours of your visit. Parking is free
Arthur and Shifra Silberman Gallery of Native American Art
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Adult Group Visits
2017 − 2018
1700 Northeast 63rd Street Oklahoma City, OK 73111 (405) 478-2250 nationalcowboymuseum.org
Museum Partners
Major Support
Community Partners