This Week in the West

This Week in the West: 70 Years Celebrating the West at The Cowboy

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🤠This Week in the West

🎙️ Episode 54: 70 Years Celebrating the West at The Cowboy

📢 Episode Summary:

This episode of This Week in The West celebrates the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s own story—marking the 70th anniversary of its founding and the 60th anniversary of its building. The episode takes listeners back to November 11, 1955, when 3,000 people gathered northeast of Oklahoma City to watch Governor Raymond Gary hand over the deed to the land that would become home to “The Cowboy.” The idea for a museum honoring the cowboy—an authentic American icon—originated with Chester Reynolds, a Lee Jeans salesman who worked closely with rodeo cowboys across the country.

Reynolds first announced his vision in 1953, and momentum quickly grew. Delegates and supporters soon agreed the museum should represent not just rodeo, but the full history of the American West. Multiple cities competed to host the project, but Oklahoma City won with its ideal Route 66 location, rodeo connections, donated land, and funding support. On dedication day, trustees also selected the first five Great Westerners, including Theodore Roosevelt, Charles Goodnight, and Will Rogers.

The episode then traces the museum’s evolution—from opening in 1965 to expanding exhibits, adding the Prix de West, and becoming home to major Western art and heritage collections. Today, the 220,000-square-foot museum preserves more than 700,000 photographs, thousands of books and archives, and the donation collections of icons like Roy Rogers and John Wayne. With new exhibitions ahead, including an immersive experience and a Route 66 gallery, The Cowboy continues fulfilling Reynolds’ dream of honoring the people and stories of the American West.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

  • How a traveling rodeo salesman sparked the idea for a national museum honoring cowboys and Western heritage.
  • Why Oklahoma City was chosen over Dodge City and Colorado Springs to become the museum’s permanent home.
  • How The Cowboy has grown over 70 years—its halls of fame, world-class art shows, massive archival collection, and future exhibitions.

    • 👥 Behind the Scenes

    Host: Seth Spillman
    Producer: Chase Spivey
    Writer: Mike Koehler

    🔗 Further research:

    • Our website: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/
    • The Dickinson Research Center: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/drc/
    • New footage of the 1965 Grand Opening Parade with John Wayne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecE8BZqlVbQ&t=63s

      • 📬 Connect With Us:

      🌐 Website: www.thecowboy.org
      📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/
      📩 Email: [email protected]
      📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/
      📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum
      ❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm
      💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum

      🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

      🎟️: You can now buy tickets to The Cowboy online, go to https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/tickets/


      💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/


      🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/

      🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

      🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708
      🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U
      🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN
      🔹Podbean: https://thisweekinthewest.podbean.com/ 

      ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate & review!



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      This Week in the WestBy The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
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