The old West
THE spirit of America’s 'Wild West' is alive and kicking. relive the frontier days and experience cowboy culture through a feast of events, museums, rodeos and ranch stays – and not just west of the
Mississippi. You can find it in surprising places, such as rodeos in Florida and even in Hawai‘i, and there are numerous authentic native American experiences
right across the country.
VILLAGE LIFE
Salt Lake City’s This is the Place Heritage Park attraction has opened a new Native American Village, showcasing life for native tribes in Utah before white settlers arrived. Native American dancers perform ceremonial dances inside America’s largest teepee, seating 110 people representing Shoshone dwellings. There are also Navajo Hogan dwellings in which stories are shared.
THE LAWLESS WEST
Guests at Arizona’s Tombstone Monument Ranch can immerse themselves in Wild West legend. Just three miles from the lawless territory Wyatt Earp tamed, the entire ranch resembles a frontier town, with a dirt Main Street and boardwalk lined by guestrooms disguised as buildings including a blacksmith’s shop and bordello.
NATIVE HERITAGE
The National Museum of the American Indian, the first national museum in the U.S. dedicated solely to Native American heritage, is part of the Smithsonian Institution and is located on D.C.’s National Mall. It features one of the world’s largest collections of American Indian arts, artefacts and archives.
TRAIL OF HISTORY
The Chisholm Trail, along which cattle were herded from Fort Worth, Texas, to Abilene, Kansas, is 150 years old. Learn about it at Chisholm Trail Museums in Kingfisher and Wellington, Oklahoma, the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum in Cleburne, Texas, and the Heritage Centre in Duncan, Oklahoma.
YIPPEE HAWAI‘I YAY
Hawai‘i’s Makawao Rodeo has been held in Upcountry Maui every Fourth of July for over 60 years. It features a parade and traditional rodeo competitions with a Hawaiian twist. Visitors can learn all about paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) traditions at ranches across Hawai‘i.