The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City is America's premier institution of Western history, art, and culture. Its mission is to honor the West through innovative and immersive storytelling that brings its legends into the present. It’s a journey through art, artifacts, and experiences that define the American West, reimagined for today’s traveler.

It’s the same old story, but now has a very new and exciting presentation, and I can’t recommend it enough for all ages. We stepped inside the story of the American West like never before with The Cowboy: An Immersive Journey, a 360-degree cinematic experience. There were sweeping projections, powerful soundscapes, and expansive Western landscapes that surrounded us in a multisensory exploration of cowboy culture.

The back story of this production is quite impressive. It was created in collaboration with Lighthouse Immersive, producers of Immersive Van Gogh. The exhibition invites guests to experience the thunder of cattle drives, the rise of rodeo and Wild West shows, and the enduring global influence of the cowboy in a fully immersive environment. And it’s beautifully narrated by actor Tom Selleck.

Multiple showings are offered daily. Tickets for the immersive experience are separate from general museum admission.

The cowboy is much more than a stereotype — and so is the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. 

You may have grown up calling it the Cowboy Hall of Fame, but today it is the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum — or simply, The Cowboy. A dynamic cultural institution, The Cowboy preserves and interprets the evolving story of the American West for millions of visitors from around the world.

The West continues to shape American and global culture. Its story — one of grit, determination and diverse experiences across vast landscapes — is inseparable from the story of America itself.

Founded in Oklahoma City in 1955, the Museum has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and houses an internationally renowned permanent collection of more than 28,000 Western and Native American art and historic artifacts. It holds the world’s most extensive collections of American rodeo photographs, barbed wire, saddlery, and early rodeo trophies.

The Museum features an exceptional collection of classic and contemporary Western art by artists such as Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, as well as my personal favorite - James Earle Fraser’s massive sculpture, The End of the Trail.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum has yet another special exhibit. It’s Route 66: From Trails to Truck Stops, that celebrates the Centennial of America’s Most Beloved Highway.

The exhibition explores the history and romance of Route 66 and its enduring ties to the American West. “At its core, the story of the West is one of movement: people, cultures, and communities forging new lives across vast landscapes,” said David Davis, Chief Curatorial Officer at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Westward expansion was primarily driven by the need to move people and goods, and the paths carved across the frontier shaped settlement, commerce, and identity. From Native trade routes to wagon trails, riverboats, railroads, automobiles and 18-wheelers, each left its mark on the American story.

The exhibition showcases artifacts, photographs, maps and multimedia experiences that reveal how the routes of the past evolved into a cultural phenomenon. In fact, the Cowboy is located just off of the old Mother Road and has been a favorite stop for visitors around the world for over 70 years.

You do not want to miss seeing this national treasure. From rotating exhibitions to immersive experiences and engaging programs for all ages, there is something for everyone — whether you visit for an hour or spend the entire day exploring. Give yourself plenty of time because you will be swept away as you Find Your West.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City, OK

Visit Oklahoma City | Hotels, Things to Do, Restaurants & Events

If you'd like information about becoming a preferred partner with Stroll Forrestridge please reach out to Telese Gray at telese.gray@n2co.com.