From its vantage point in Oklahoma City, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum commands a rare view of the American West. In half a century it has grown from a Hall of Fame honoring the American cowboy to a world-class institution housing extraordinary collections of art, artifacts, and archival materials. A Western Legacy celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of this premier museum, offering both an institutional history and a captivating collection of photographs representing its extensive holdings.
Opening with a history of the museum by David Dary, A Western Legacy presents for the first time in one volume numerous color images of the museum’s signature artworks and artifacts, selected for their rarity, superior quality, or historic importance, each accompanied by an interpretive essay. These include examples of western art by Charles M. Russell, Frederic Remington, and others; stunning boots, chaps, and saddles; a diverse selection of traditional and fine art by American Indians; military artifacts; antique photographs; an assortment of rodeo trophies; superlative firearms; and memorabilia from the entertainment world.
This volume, which marks the inauguration of The Western Legacies Series, is a stirring testament both to the museum’s holdings and to the persistence of western heritage in a new century.