Mabel Strickland Cowgirls of the West Museum, Inc. |
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WHY A COWGIRL MUSEUM?
It was the COWGIRL who seduced The West into a “Love of Rodeo!”
In the late 1800’s, Circus entertainment began to be replaced by Wild
West Shows. These shows traveled far and wide with Cowboys and
Indians and exploited the exciting way of life in the untamed American
West.
As the public became more and more enamored by the pioneer courage
and the settling of America’s wide open spaces, contests or Rodeos with
horse racing, bronc riding and steer roping began to take the place of the
shows.
These rodeos worked for a while, but as interest began to wane and
crowds dwindled, the Cowgirl emerged. It was great to see rough
cowboys wrestle with their mounts and perform reckless daring feats, but
it was really something when a demure, beautiful young lady stepped up
in her divided skirt and performed the same feat
Rodeo producers began to see an increase in attendance. Races and
contests just for women were included in the rodeo Pictures of beautiful
Cowgirls were used for advertising. Their images were on rodeo
programs and billboards. Huge crowds began to be drawn to this new
entertainment.
The time was the early 1900’s. The cowgirls were bringing a feminine
touch to the rodeo arena, and they took this charge seriously. No matter
how tough competing was for them, they always took on the additional
task of looking glamorous and flamboyant as they designed and sewed
their own outfits. They never missed an opportunity to pose for those
hundreds of cowgirl pictures that we continue to enjoy today
However, the life of the cowgirl was not easy. Times were changing,
society believed women were not supposed to ride astride or wear riding
pants. “Ladies” weren’t to be involved in any kind of athletic sports. But,
these cowgirls, true to their spirit, arose above all the public criticism and
broke some of the first feminist barriers.
Many of them were married to cowboys who traveled with them, while
others traveled with groups of performers. Some were self taught, while
others came from ranches, and out of necessity had become great
‘hands’. Whatever their plight, these great women deserve to have their
place in history recorded and documented. This is the Mission of the
Mabel Strickland Cowgirls of the West Museum.
Rodeo is different today and has seen many changes, but the foundation
of the sport we all enjoy, was held together by the feminine threads of the
daring Magnificent COWGIRL!
2007 was really a great year for YOUR Museum. As members, you can
take credit for the many milestones covered in the quest to capture
cowgirl history.
It was the COWGIRL who seduced The West into a “Love of Rodeo!”
In the late 1800’s, Circus entertainment began to be replaced by Wild
West Shows. These shows traveled far and wide with Cowboys and
Indians and exploited the exciting way of life in the untamed American
West.
As the public became more and more enamored by the pioneer courage
and the settling of America’s wide open spaces, contests or Rodeos with
horse racing, bronc riding and steer roping began to take the place of the
shows.
These rodeos worked for a while, but as interest began to wane and
crowds dwindled, the Cowgirl emerged. It was great to see rough
cowboys wrestle with their mounts and perform reckless daring feats, but
it was really something when a demure, beautiful young lady stepped up
in her divided skirt and performed the same feat
Rodeo producers began to see an increase in attendance. Races and
contests just for women were included in the rodeo Pictures of beautiful
Cowgirls were used for advertising. Their images were on rodeo
programs and billboards. Huge crowds began to be drawn to this new
entertainment.
The time was the early 1900’s. The cowgirls were bringing a feminine
touch to the rodeo arena, and they took this charge seriously. No matter
how tough competing was for them, they always took on the additional
task of looking glamorous and flamboyant as they designed and sewed
their own outfits. They never missed an opportunity to pose for those
hundreds of cowgirl pictures that we continue to enjoy today
However, the life of the cowgirl was not easy. Times were changing,
society believed women were not supposed to ride astride or wear riding
pants. “Ladies” weren’t to be involved in any kind of athletic sports. But,
these cowgirls, true to their spirit, arose above all the public criticism and
broke some of the first feminist barriers.
Many of them were married to cowboys who traveled with them, while
others traveled with groups of performers. Some were self taught, while
others came from ranches, and out of necessity had become great
‘hands’. Whatever their plight, these great women deserve to have their
place in history recorded and documented. This is the Mission of the
Mabel Strickland Cowgirls of the West Museum.
Rodeo is different today and has seen many changes, but the foundation
of the sport we all enjoy, was held together by the feminine threads of the
daring Magnificent COWGIRL!
2007 was really a great year for YOUR Museum. As members, you can
take credit for the many milestones covered in the quest to capture
cowgirl history.
