Skip to content

The Museum will be closing at 4 p.m. on Friday, November 7 and Saturday, November 8 for a special event

Heart and Soul

Modernizing Galleries, Deepening Storytelling,
Enhancing Guest Experience

We’ve launched the most ambitious curatorial project in decades: Heart & Soul, an initiative to reimagine our galleries through immersive storytelling and updated technology to tell a holistic story of the American West.

You’ll see fresh themes, better organization, new visuals and hands-on activities in the exhibits.

Heart & Soul represents the best of The Cowboy, by allowing us to connect people
to the West in ways that are meaningful to them.

We are not simply updating gallery walls. We are redesigning how stories are told.

 

New Atherton Gallery Virtual Tour

Why Now?

Many of our exhibits date back to the late 1990s. While the content remains significant, new interpretive tools and technologies offer the ability to enhance storytelling. We now have the opportunity to create a thematic, connected storyline across gallery spaces.

Heart & Soul Goals

Heart & Soul is our commitment to create a more cohesive Museum experience, one that integrates our collections into a unified narrative that more fully reflects the diverse history and culture of the American West.

A clear narrative arc that supports the Museum’s key message: Find Your West

Trail-marker kiosks and defined pathways to guide interpretation

More accessible graphics to enhance readability and impact

Iconic interactive features in each space

Increase multimedia content throughout galleries

Stronger alignment with curriculum standards in social studies and history

Our stories haven’t changed, but the way we tell them must evolve to connect with current and future generations. Heart & Soul will ensure The Cowboy tells the story of the American West in a more compelling way.

SUPPORT THE PROJECT

Stay Connected

Sign up for our e-newsletter