Exhibits

One of the reasons that museums exist is to display collections of art and artifacts for the public to enjoy. From hand-crafted works in metal such as spurs and bits, to paintings that capture the richly colored Western landscape, to original structures from some of the most famous ranches in Texas, the objects tell the stories of our past. The NRHC’s changing exhibition program gives visitors a chance to view our own collections as well as those from other institutions or private lenders.

Some exhibits offer educational and evocative looks at the routine of everyday life for the cowboys, ranchers and their families. Others focus on a single pastime or trade that has come to define certain elements, like the quilt making done by our grandmothers and their mothers, or the men of several generations who tooled designs into gun leather or prize saddles for the rodeo.

Most displays in our galleries, as well the historic buildings and on-line exhibits, can be enjoyed on several levels. Fine arts pieces certainly offer aesthetic pleasures, but often include many small details of the material culture of another era. Likewise, an original home from the 19^th century reveals architectural tastes, reflects the geography of the region in which it was built and tells us about the technology available at the time.

Exhibits also “speak” to people in different ways, bringing back memories from a long-past childhood spent out on the range or offering explanations of handy gadgets that were once common in early settlers’ barns but are rarely seen today. Making modern folks think about their heritage is a big part of what we do at the NRHC. We hope that the stories told by our buildings, windmills, photographs, sculptures, furnishings and tools will help you understand what ranching was, and still is, all about.

Copyright © 2003, National Ranching Heritage Center