$19 Million Expansion Brings New Exhibits To Fort Worth’s National Cowgirl Museum
A major expansion at the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame is bringing a new collection of Western history, rodeo trailblazers and stage costumes to Fort Worth. The museum will open its $19 million, 16,000-square-foot addition on Nov. 7, marking its 50th anniversary with new galleries, exhibitions and the debut of the Cowgirl Carousel. The public opening is part of a daylong celebration in Fort Worth's Cultural District. An exclusive preview for museum members begins at 10 a.m., followed by the Grand Cowgirl Parade at noon. Horses, Western organizations and floats will travel through the district, and the parade is free to watch along the route. The expanded museum also marks the beginning of its next 50 years of preserving and sharing the stories of women who shaped the American West. New Galleries Honor Women Of The West The expansion adds space for exhibitions focused on the women whose work and accomplishments helped define Western culture, sports and history. One of the first exhibitions in the new Collections Gallery will be The 38 , which tells the story of the women who established professional opportunities for female rodeo competitors. In 1948, 38 women gathered at the St. Angelus Hotel
