FORT WORTH, TEXAS (January 31, 2019) – The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is set to reopen the second floor, the Kit Moncrief Galleries and It’s Never Just a Horse exhibition, on March 9, 2019. The $5.5 million second floor renovation started a little over a year ago and the Museum is ready to reveal phase two of the renovation plan that started in 2015 with the first floor.
The second floor of the Museum has only had minor alterations since the building opened in 2002 before this comprehensive renovation. The completion of this project provides the 33,000 – square foot, two-story Museum the ability to augment visitor experience as well as increase educational programming.
As the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage in their trail-blazing efforts, the renovation has enhanced its mission by exploring the special bond between women and horses through the lens of many Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honorees.
“The newly renovated Cowgirl Museum second floor pays tribute to the amazing relationship between women and horses,” said National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame’s executive director Patricia Riley, “and celebrates the partnerships which are so special to both. The new exhibition and experiences are sure to engage and enthrall visitors of all ages.”
The Kit Moncrief Galleries will be largely given over to the new It’s Never Just a Horse exhibition which explores the relationship between women and horses, and those women – who have and who are – shaping the West and changing the world. The expansive gallery will pay homage to the undeniable link among the horse, women, the West and the world.
The It’s Never Just a Horse exhibition will feature five thematic “islands”: Ranching, Competing, Healing, Business and Inspiring. These broad categories explore how the horse connects with women through artifacts, some never before seen, displayed on the perimeter of each island. Each island will have a media station that provides the ability to explore additional information, artifacts and photos. New artifacts include the saddle Kit Harrington used when he portrayed Jon Snow in the blockbuster series Game of Thrones, on loan from Cowgirl Honoree and horse master Camilla Naprous.
Twice an hour, the gallery lights will dim and life-size horses will appear on the surrounding walls, encircling the visitor. Seemingly entering the gallery space; the horse will be large enough for a visitor to see it breathe.
An immersive digital experience that was designed with Ideum, an interactive design firm, will include a 65” platform multitouch table. Visitors will be able to design their own horse, western shirt and boots inspired by Cowgirl Honorees like Fern Sawyer, Tad Lucas and Connie Douglas Reeves. While the visitor is designing their chosen cowgirl piece, it will be projected on the walls around them, providing the opportunity to take a picture of their design to share via social media using #CowgirlMuseum.
The National Cowgirl Museum’s popular, interactive bronc ride will be making a return to the second floor with new features and the ability to download your video to share with your friends on social media.
There will be a Cowgirl Museum members-only party inviting members to have one of the first viewings of the newly renovated second floor before it’s open to the public. The morning of March 6 is designated for media; please contact our public engagement manager, Madison Ward, at mward@cowgirl.net or 817.509.8969 to reserve a media visit.
To continue the celebration of the new second floor, the Cowgirl Museum will stay open late the third Friday of each month starting March 15 through December 20 for cowgirl cocktails from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. More event details will be released later.
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame worked with the same team, Projectiles, an international architect team based in Paris, France that designed the Hitting the Mark: Cowgirls and Wild West Shows Gallery and the stunning two-story mobile located in the rotunda. The Museum also teamed up with Ideum, an interactive design firm, for new projects for the second floor that include an immersive table and media stations.
The Museum has extended their hours during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. February 10 through March 8 the Museum will be closed for final renovations.
New museum hours and admission prices are as follows:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.
Closed Mondays (including summer); except during FWSSR and Spring Break (March 11th): 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission Rates:
Adults – $12.00
Seniors (age 65+) – $9.00
Military & First Responders – $9.00
Children (age 4-12) – $6.00
Children age 3 and under – free with paid admission **Cowgirl Family Special (2 adults and up to 4 children age 4-12) $36.00** Perfect for Spring Break
Group Rates: minimum 10 people with two week advance reservation; maximum 120 people Adults/Seniors – $7.00 Students (PreK-12th) – $4.50 One free chaperone per every 10 students Additional Chaperones – $7.00
Adult/Senior groups – complimentary docent guided tour based upon availability Student groups – self-guided; complimentary scavenger hunt kits upon request
Keep up with the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, visit www.cowgirl.net and follow us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/NCMHOF, Twitter at www.twitter.com/cowgirlmuseum and Instagram at www.instagram.com/cowgirlmu-seum. The Museum will be available for event rental after the Museum reopens March 9, 2019. Contact Tommy Morton for more information at tommy@cowgirl.net or 817.509.8987.
Check out our Second Floor Reopening FAQs on www.cowgirl.net.
