A new exhibit at the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, “Gravity Defied,” opens Nov. 7. Here’s what it includes.
Fort Worth’s National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame has been paying tribute to groundbreaking women since it first opened in 1975. It was originally operated out of the Deaf Smith County Library’s basement in Hereford before eventually moving to Fort Worth in 1994 and establishing its now permanent location on Gendy Street in 2002.
Since October 19 the museum has been closed to the public while it undergoes renovation. The expansion runs a $19 million price tag and includes an addition spanning 16,000 square feet. Once the space is open again on November 7, visitors can enter through freshly added doors facing Dickies Arena and enjoy the new Cowgirl Carousel, additional galleries, event space, and the upcoming “Gravity Defied: Trick Riders of the Cowgirl” exhibition.
The museum’s latest collection will feature archival photography showcasing Cowgirl Hall of Fame honorees like Faye Blesing and Faye Blackstone who helped develop the extreme sport of trick and fancy riding over the years. It became increasingly popular across the country when it was featured in Wild West shows. A press release from the American Horse Publications noted that “women were active participants in those shows and became instrumental in development of the discipline.”
As of writing, it’s unclear if admission for “Gravity Defied” is included in the price of a standard museum ticket. The American Horse Publications’ press release stated that additional information and details regarding the exhibit, as well as the museum’s expansion, are still forthcoming.
Tickets typically cost $10 per adult, $7 for seniors, military personnel, and first responders, and $4 for children between the ages of four and 12. Children under the age of three are admitted for free with full price admission for one accompanying adult.
The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame will officially reopen on November 7 with a members-only preview scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. that day before the public is admitted at 12 p.m. Standard hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“Gravity Defied” features
Included in the “Gravity Defied: Trick Riders of the Cowgirl” exhibition are photographs of several notable female rodeo stars who created stunning tricks and captivated audiences with their bravado. One photo captures Faye Blesing on the back of her horse at the Santa Rosa Round-Up at Vernon’s Hippodrome Stand in 1949. Another features Faye Blackstone and her incredible Flyaway trick, and a third shows Tad Lucas performing a “suicide drag” at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in 1948.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a suicide drag is a particularly challenging (and scary) rodeo trick where the rider hangs upside down off the back or side of their horse as it gallops around the arena. The rider’s head and/or hands are often close to the floor as this is happening, making for an exciting performance that requires delicate, dedicated execution.
The associate executive director of exhibits and education for the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, Diana Vela, curated the collection. She said of the photographs, “I am in awe of these women, all Honorees, whose athleticism often goes unnoticed. The risk is clear, the difficulty is clear, and yet you can feel the sheer joy emanating from these photographs in their broad smiles and wind-whipped hair.”
Vela added, “I think most revealing was reading their oral histories held in our archives when they talk about learning to trick ride or inventing tricks. The one moment captured on film belies a multitude of stories behind it.” She also emphasized just how much time, effort, and dedication it took for these women to master their tricks and create their performances, and how the new exhibit hopefully pays fitting tribute to their perseverance.
