Collections: Art

The National Ranching Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving and honoring this nation’s rich ranching history.  The museum has a variety of artifacts that visitors can see and structures they can visit to help deepen their understanding and appreciation of ranching culture.  In addition to the artifacts is a collection of artwork that also supports the mission and objectives of the NRHC.  The artwork in the possession of the NRHC does a number of things to help the organization meet its goals. 

On one level, the art collection prompts an emotional response; it evokes sentimentality, awe, empathy, wanderlust or a desire for action.  Some art in the collection features sweeping, majestic vistas that are inspiring and transport the visitor to a different time and place.  Other works evoke the isolation and hardships that cowboys have endured during long days on trail drives.  Other pieces shows cowboys engaged in more mundane activities such as looking for shade that may offer respite on the range from the bright sun.

On another level, the art collection also provides an added dimension of appreciation for ranch life.  Detailed photographs and paintings provide vignettes of life in the cattle industry and help to place what visitors have learned into a visual context.  Visitors are better able to appreciate the joys and hardships that people have faced in the open, rugged land of the American West.  Many of the works in the collection were created by artists who were cowboys or who have had a very intimate relationship with the West and ranch life.

The majority of the art collection consists of oil paintings and photographs, but there are a number of fine prints, drawings and watercolors.  The art work collection is made possible by generous donations from the general public and members of the Ranching Heritage Association.  We encourage you to visit the NRHC and enjoy the rich, growing collection of truly wonderful Western art.

Copyright © 2003, National Ranching Heritage Center