The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum has been a must-see for visitors and Oklahomans alike since it was founded in 1955. Its mission statement is to “preserve and interpret the evolving history and cultures of the American West for the education and enrichment of its diverse audience of adults and children.” This mission is completely fulfilled with the current exhibit, The Cowboy: An Immersive Journey, which is a whole new way to experience American Western history.
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To create The Cowboy, the museum partnered with Lighthouse Immersive, producers of the wildly successful Immersive Van Gogh. A gallery within the museum has been completely transformed into a captivating 360-degree environment. Guests are able to be present in the middle of the exhibition, surrounded by sound and light projections where the walls and floor are working in tandem.
With narration by Tom Selleck, The Cowboy exhibition is guided by the story of real-life cowboy Jack Bailey as he took part in a cattle drive from north Texas through the Indian Territory now known as Oklahoma and into Kansas in 1868. Bailey kept a journal which recorded details of his experience as well as aspects of the team of cowboys he traveled with and information about his herd, which was likely made up of between 1,500 and 2,000 animals. The original journal is a part of the museum’s permanent collection; following the exhibit, guests are able to flip through a digitized version to read the authentic observations of this working cowboy from over 150 years ago.
Visitors will experience the American West through five chapters, beginning with the land before these cattle drives and the beginning of the cowboy story, to rodeos and Wild West shows, to Hollywood legends. The program concludes by demonstrating the determination and enduring spirit of modern-day cowboys.
Seth Spillman, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, encouraged everyone to experience The Cowboy if they are able. “The Cowboy: An Immersive Journey is something completely new and unexpected,” Spillman said. “It places you inside the sights, sounds and stories of the West in a way you cannot experience anywhere else, and we are excited to bring this world-class event to Oklahoma City for both visitors and locals. We are offering later hours Thursday through Saturday to allow those who are working or in school on weekdays to come experience the immersive [exhibit] and everything else the museum has to offer.”
The Cowboy: An Immersive Journey is approximately 40 minutes; it has multiple showtimes daily and is appropriate for both children and adults of all ages. The exhibition is a separately ticketed experience, in addition to the museum entrance, however members receive discounted pricing. There is also a VIP experience which includes priority entry and exclusive memorabilia. The immersive will be put on hiatus May 3 to accommodate the annual Prix de West Invitational Art Sale and Exhibition, and will re-open on July 25, which is also National Day of the Cowboy. The Cowboy will close permanently in December of this year, and is scheduled to then be on display across Europe.
