Digital Discovery
American Cowboy
What is a cowboy? Where did cowboy traditions come from? In this program students learn about the origins of the cowboy and what their daily lives looked like. Explore common myths popular culture has taught us and discover the rich diversity that makes up what we know as the cowboy today.
History of the Cowboy Hat
The Cowboy’s Horse
Barb Wire
History of Branding: Irons in the Fire
The Chuck Wagon
Paniolo Cowboy
Rodeo Origins
The Ranch Life
Best of the West
The frontier was home to many indigenous tribes and settled by emigrants from across the globe. During this program students compare and contrast Native American and non-Indian lifestyles, explore the legend of the American cowboy, analyze and interpret premier Western art using visual thinking strategy inquiry and identify how artifacts and artwork help communicate the story of the West today.
Emigrants Crossing the Plains
Charles M. Russell
Fredric Remington
Frederic Remington
Fredric Remington
Windows to the West
First Peoples
Before it was “West,” this land was the ancestral home of many indigenous communities. Their culture is reflected in how they live and the types of dwellings they inhabit. The migration of European immigrants brought about the loss of land and lifeways, but introduced trade and new materials that were utilized in everyday life. This tour explores how the First Peoples persevered and are working to reclaim and advance cultural continuity.
Vanessa Jennings
Bruce Cesar
Anita Fields
Kiowa Six
Into the Circle
Silberman Collection
Head Dresses
Beadwork
Pottery
Oklahoma as the West
The frontier was settled by rugged, versatile pioneers from around the world. They moved into the new frontier for many reasons, and Oklahoma was no exception. Students will compare and contrast life in the state for its Native American population and turn-of-the-century settlers, analyze the role of the military including the Buffalo Soldier, explore life in a recreated turn-of-the-century frontier town, and make comparisons to their lives today.
Anita Fields
The Fur Trade
Explore the West: Uniting a Nation
the Rodeo
The rodeo is a cultural emblem of the American West. Originating in the practices of Spanish, Mexican, and American cattle herders, rodeos evolved from informal competitions of ranching skills into organized public events that celebrate the cowboy lifestyle. Today, rodeos remain significant cultural and community events, reflecting the enduring allure of the cowboy ethos while contributing to the preservation of Western heritage and traditions.
