Aliyah Rose Reviews… the National Cowboy Museum & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City

Aliyah learns a new tip about painting background and foreground figures.
Aliyah learns a new tip about painting background and foreground figures.

December, 2019 – Aliyah just had to take us to check out the Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City over the Thanksgiving weekend, since we were already in the neighborhood. Granddad had visited this extraordinary museum before, and couldn’t say enough good things about it.

The End of the Trail, James Earle Fraser.
The End of the Trail, James Earle Fraser.

Note from Grandma: The sculpture “End Of the Trail” (above) is thought provoking and controversial. To me personally, it represents never giving up, even in the worst adversity. You can see not only suffering in this figure, but a determination not to fall, but to persevere.

One of the first stops was a photo station, where visitors can pose for snapshots to help remember the visit later. Aliyah thought this was a great way to get a little “hands on” time in the museum. OK, so it was fun for all of us!

Howdy, folks!
Howdy, folks!

The museum gives handheld blue filters to the children so they can read questions posted around the museum and “decode” the hidden answers. The filter works by removing the red light from the message (see below). Even though Aliyah can only read a handful of words, she loved holding up the filter so we could read the questions and answers to her. She even used it to point out her favorite words of art, and she looked at everything through the filter. Definitely a big hit!

Oh, oh, I know the answer to this one!
Oh, oh, I know the answer to this one!

Wow, she looks way more than twice life-size to us!

Aliyah loved ALL the sculptures, but especially the magnificent cougar, the “Canyon Princess.” This piece was sculpted from a 31 ton block of marble by Gerald Balciar.

The Canyon Princess is reportedly twice life-size, but she looked like way more than that to us. At least I hope a real cougar isn’t nearly that big!

The next area we visited housed an extensive collection of cowboy gear, including saddles, bridles, spurs, and much more. The worked leather pieces, like the saddles, were beautiful works of art that anyone could appreciate, young or old.

Now that's what I call attention to detail!
Hey Santa, I've been a VERY good girl this year!
Hey Santa, I’ve been a VERY good girl this year!

Nearby, we found a terra cotta horse sculpture from the Tang dynasty (circa 618-907 AD). It was donated by the one and only John Wayne in 1979. This was not Aliyah’s favorite artwork, but Grandma was impressed!

Horsemen and women have been around for a LONG time!
Horsemen and women have been around for a LONG time!

There were several displays of bridles, quirts and spurs, which didn’t look especially horse-friendly…

Quirts - sort of like riding crops but not quite.
Quirts – sort of like riding crops but not quite.
Ouch, those spurs look painful...
Ouch, those spurs look painful…

We also saw some native American pottery…

Aliyah learns the definition of "fragile"
Aliyah learns the definition of “fragile”

And LOTS of amazing paintings and sculptures. Aliyah walked around pointing out the ones she liked best, and made sure her faithful Grandma took pics of her pointing at the best works. She liked all the sculptures, and about half of the paintings, mostly those with people or sumptuous colors. Grandma was told a museum staffer that many of these artworks are worth millions, so we made sure to keep our little hands to ourselves! It was hard to keep our distance from the paintings, but we managed.

Trooper of the Plains, by Frederick S. Remington.
Trooper of the Plains, by Frederick S. Remington.

We were lucky enough to have an artist with us, Aliyah’s cousin (twice removed) Carol Smircich. Carol took some time to teach Aliyah a little bit about composition and color. In the painting below, Carol showed us how the horses in background were rendered a lighter color to show that they are farther away from the viewer. The closest figures are the darkest and brightest by contrast.

Aliyah learns a new tip about painting background and foreground figures.
Aliyah learns a new tip about painting background and foreground figures.
Hmmm, I know that this is a "Landscape," but how are light and dark hues used here to show distance?
Hmmm, I know that this is a “Landscape,” but how are light and dark hues used here to show distance?

Aliyah loved the Native American art and craft displays, especially a surprising case of brightly beaded children’s sneakers. I believe they were worn for dances, but I’m not sure about that. Anyone want to help me out?

Who wants ruby slippers when there are ruby sneakers in the world??
Who wants ruby slippers when there are ruby sneakers in the world??
Western Front No. 7 by Frank Big Bear.  Love those colors!
Western Front No. 7 by Frank Big Bear. Love those colors!
Aliyah said those were cumulonimbus clouds, but Grandma thought maybe they were dust clouds. Who's right? You decide!
Aliyah said those were cumulonimbus clouds, but Grandma thought maybe they were dust clouds. Who’s right? You decide!
Now those little guys are just too cute!
Now those little guys are just too cute!

Next up, we saw a large collection of rifles and pistols, even including a few sets of dueling pistols in their cases.

Aliyah doesn't have her conceal carry permit (yet), so we can all relax for now.
Aliyah doesn’t have her conceal carry permit (yet), so we can all relax for now.

Next stop, a mockup western town where kids of all ages can get pictures and see examples of how people lived and worked back when. It would have been better if the lighting was good, but as soon as we went into the “town” area, it was quite dark. Is is supposed to be a deserted western town at night? Not sure.

A covered wagon. But, er, uncovered.
A covered wagon. But, er, uncovered.
I'd like to make a withdrawal, please. In silver dollars.
I’d like to make a withdrawal, please. In silver dollars.
Great, a photography studio! Lets take selfies!
Great, a photography studio! Lets take selfies!
Where's the blacksmith? My horse needs new shoes!
Where’s the blacksmith? My horse needs new shoes!
Time to mosey on out of the western village...

Time to mosey on out of the Western Town…

... And ride off into the sunset.

… and ride off into the sunset.

Aliyah found several dioramas that did a good job of showing kids what life in the old west might have looked like. Aliyah approved of how these displays combined the artifacts she had seen before, all brought together in the context of daily living. Of course she wanted to climb up and investigate more closely, but we figured the museum staff would not be amused.

No, you may NOT climb into the diorama and ride the nice horsey.

We also found some more displays that were a kid-friendly height, but Aliyah delegated the reading to Grams and Granddad. Just so we would have something to do, of course.

What secrets can we decrypt with our spyglass here?
What secrets can we decrypt with our spyglass here?

One of the big surprises the last — a huge ballroom featuring several sets of magnificent murals. Aliyah was suitably impressed, and later she asked me if we could paint pictures on her bedroom walls. I’m pretty sure we can’t meet her expectations on that one, but perhaps something simple like basic flowers? We’ll have to see.

Now these are what we call murals! So much gorgeosity!
Now these are what we call murals! So much gorgeosity!

On our way out we stopped to evaluate the gift shop. Aliyah asked us to invest in a lovely stick horse, but sadly it would never have fit into our luggage.

Ride a little horsey down to town!
Ride a little horsey down to town!

Aliyah’s assessment – She loved the light filter, decoding messages, all the interactive stations, and showing us her favorite exhibits. Two little thumbs up!

About the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Website https://nationalcowboymuseum.org

Address:
1700 Northeast 63rd St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73111

Email:
info@nationalcowboymuseum.org

Phone:
(405) 478-2250

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