Cowgirls of the West Museum & Gifts

We are a Museum, an Emporium, Kindred Spirits & Friendship. A History of the Past & History in the Making. We are a grass-roots organization dedicated to the History & Legends of Pioneering Western Women! We are an organization that is dedicated to preserving the heritage and the very important role that women played in the taming and settling of the wild, rough & tumble West. The organization was founded in 1995 by women who not only wanted to keep the Western Spirit alive, but also to honor strong women of the past and present who have made amazing contributions to western culture and history. The settling of the American West has often been romanticized in print and in the video media, where the lives of women have sometimes been depicted as easy, carefree, and glamorous: Nothing is further from the truth!! Our pioneering women worked very hard and right alongside men to make the American West the one that we know today. The purpose of The Cowgirls of the West is to tell and preserve their remarkable and historical stories. We do this in a number of ways...Our goal from the beginning was to have a museum to house the many items of Cowgirl History that have been donated or put on loan with us. In 2001, the Cowgirls of the West Museum & Gift Shop opened in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming. Here you will find a diverse collection of western and historical memorabilia, along with Cowgirl member volunteers to answer questions and help tell the story of the daring, and challenging spirit of the soft souls of women who helped shape the American West. We invite you to come in and learn about notable women from the local Cheyenne area as well as other regions and states, who have made their mark on the American West. The Museum features a collection of artifacts and antiques, western saddles & tack, clothing, and memorabilia that take you back in time to learn about what life was like for women from early pioneer and ranching homesteads, and including the daring women of the earlier rodeo and trick riding era. Cowgirl members work on collecting and preserving authentic western memorabilia for display in our museum.