National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum




1928 World Series Rodeo Contestant signature card of Cowboy Morgan Evans



The National Cowboy Museum & Western Heritage Museum offers many educational opportunities. It is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Here you celebrate the contributions of men and women of the American West including explorers, Native American leaders, writers, poets and politicians. You can see the world's largest collection of American rodeo, photographs and saddlery.

The Museum includes three Halls of Fame, including The Hall of Great Westerners for actual people who lived through the frontier era to present. Other halls include the Hall of Great Western Performers, for actors, and the Rodeo Hall of Fame.

 
There is so much to see here so I will just focus on just one part the Hall of Great Western Performers which is a large exploration of interpretations of the West in books and in film. It includes the John Wayne collection of personal firearms, artwork, and memorabilia.
Hands-on activities have been incorporated into educational programs for elementary school children, and junior and high school students enjoy a guided tour of the Museum.

Reservations are required for all group visits.

Helpful info when planning your field trip: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum School

National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Have you been to Seneca Falls, NY?  Here you can visit the National Women’s Hall of Fame and learn about many amazing American women including Annie Oakley and Susette La Flesche. (They don't have Calamity Jane but I guess she was up to no good most of the time!)



At the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the mission is “Showcasing great women…Inspiring all!”  They have so much information about so many women it is worth looking at their list of women before you visit to choose maybe 10 or so that you are going to focus on especially if you are going on a field trip with kids. The ones that interest me are the adventurer Amelia Earhart, the movie stars Ann Bancroft and Lucille Ball, Annie Dodge Wauneka, tribal leader of the Navajo Nation, the singers Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday, the writer Emily Dickinson and of course my all time favourite - Annie Oakley.

The number of posters and photographs and the amount of information displayed can be overwhelming so make it fun if going with children by giving them a list each of the 10 women chosen and asking them to find as many as they can, tick the list and find 1 interesting fact that they did not know about each woman. This makes it a bit like a treasure hunt and more focused.

There is a modest admission price per family to the Women’s Hall of Fame.
There are also group visits available and tours:
Group Tour Activities suitable for children.

Words on Women for Grade Level 6-8.
After a brief introduction to the National Women’s Hall of Fame, students explore inductee biographies and use their creative thinking skills to create an eleven-line biographical poem about an inductee of their choice. If time permits, students can share their poems with the group in led discussion.
Time of tour: Approximately 30-45 minutes

Come Stand Among Great Women for Grade Level 4-5, and can be adapted for other grade levels.
After a brief introduction to the National Women’s Hall of Fame, students explore inductee biographies and complete a worksheet about the woman of their choice. If time permits, students can share their information with the group in a led discussion.
Time of tour: Approximately 30-45 minutes

Please note the National Women’s Hall of Fame is wheelchair accessible by temporary ramp so if possible, let them know in advance of your visit if you require this assistance.

More info both about the history and a visit to the National Women’s Hall of Fame with photographs at New York Traveler.net.

While you are in Seneca Falls, NY, the birthplace of the women’s rights movement, there are other educational things to do:
Women’s Rights National Historical Park
Seneca Falls Historical Society
Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry
IDEA Center for the Voices of Humanity