The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame in Fort Worth celebrated a $19 million expansion Wednesday, unveiling additional exhibition space and new attractions devoted to women of the American West. The expanded museum opens to the public at noon Nov. 7, with admission free that day following a grand parade.
Nearly 18,000 square feet have been added, bringing the institution to almost 50,000 square feet. The additions include art galleries, a Western store, an event space accommodating up to 250 people and a working carousel with 18 horses. A new entrance faces Ariat Arena to strengthen the connection with the venue. Outside, 70 galloping American quarter horses decorate the building, drawing inspiration from 19th-century chronophotography depicting horses in motion.
Museum leaders had been planning the expansion for years after recognizing that they lacked sufficient room to exhibit a collection of nearly 6,000 objects, spokesperson Julie Bryant said. The project was announced publicly in summer 2025, several months after Fort Worth committed $6.5 million. Established in Hereford, Texas, in 1975, the museum opened its current Cultural District building in 2002. The city owns and leases the building.
Three exhibitions accompany the expansion. In the new Collections Gallery on the first floor, “The 38” examines the women who established the Girls Rodeo Association in 1948. Photographs, oral histories and personal belongings tell the story of the organization, now called the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.
The photography gallery debuts with “Gravity Defied: Trick Riders of The Cowgirl,” which brings together 27 images of accomplished trick riders, including Hall of Fame honorees. A large crystal chandelier shaped like a horse is another prominent feature of the gallery. Bryant said the expanded wing brings the museum’s curatorial capabilities to the level of nearby institutions such as the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and Kimbell Art Museum.
Upstairs, the new Icons Gallery houses “Velvet Rodeo,” featuring 18 custom outfits worn by Grammy Award-winning country singer Miranda Lambert during her Las Vegas residency. That engagement lasted nearly two years, ending in April 2024. The exhibition will remain on display through fall 2028.
Speaking at the ribbon-cutting, Lambert said Elvis Presley and Western clothing exhibited at the museum influenced her sparkling stage wardrobe. She described having the outfits displayed there as a full-circle experience and called her 2021 Hall of Fame induction one of her career’s most significant moments.
Museum director Pat Riley said the institution’s purpose extends beyond its objects and exhibitions to recognizing women whose courage led them to take different paths. Museum President Kit Moncrief said the expanded space would help children find their own courage while allowing Western women’s stories to inspire future generations.
The free Cowgirl Grand Parade begins at 11 a.m. Nov. 7, with visitors encouraged to secure viewing spots from 10:30 a.m. Participants will include Hall of Fame honorees, Western riding clubs, the Texas Christian University baseball team and community organizations. The route covers Montgomery and Gendy streets between Lancaster and Harley avenues, plus Harley Avenue between Montgomery and Gendy streets.
