Wyoming museum honors cowgirls
If the definition of a cowboy is guts and a horse, then the definition of a cowgirl should be guts, a horse and a skirt. There’s an ace-high spot in the wild and woolly Western town of Cheyenne, Wyo., that pays tribute just to such a gal that’s as fine as cream gravy – the Cowgirls of the West Museum. In it, you’ll find a heapin’ helping of artifacts that pay tribute to the women of the West.
At a time when a woman simply sitting on a horse could be seen as scandalous, these gals were rootin’, tootin’, ropin’ and shootin’. There’s Bonnie Gray and her horse King Tut, jumping over convertible motor cars (with passengers!) in 1925. There’s Elouise Fox Hastings, who ran away from home when she was 14 and joined the Irwin Bros. Wild West Show as a trick rider. There’s Prairie Rose Henderson, who, in 1911, was awarded the title of world’s champion bronc rider and was known as the queen of rodeo fashion. And there’s Tad Lucas, the First Lady of Rodeo and the undisputed world trick rider from 1925-33. Not a namby-pamby in the bunch.
But wait, pardners, there’s more. They’ve got buckles, saddles, costumes, hats and spurs that go jingle-janglejingle. And you can get in to see the whole shooting match for free, donations accepted. So the next time you find yourself in Cheyenne, God willing and if the creek don’t rise, mosey on over to the Cowgirl Museum. Not to do so would be plumb loco.
The Cowgirls of the West Museum & Emporium is at 203 and 205 W. 17th St. in Cheyenne, Wyo.