Fort Worth museum approves 18,000-square-foot expansion

The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame in Fort Worth has planned a nearly 18,000-square-foot expansion to its current Cultural District facility.

The project will add four new galleries, an 18-horse carousel, an event venue, and dedicated space for K-12 educational programming. The museum has operated from this location since 2002, where it honors the legacies of women who shaped the American West.

A parade this weekend marked the start of the expansion efforts. Young girls cheered as riders in boots and spurs moved through the streets. Kendra Hileman, a member of the 40 Something Cowgirls, rode in the procession to support the institution's mission to recognize women in Western culture.

Hileman noted that the event was an opportunity to see the museum grow. “It’s just exciting to see that the museum is expanding and that we get to help support that,” Hileman said. “It’s just fun to get cowgirls recognized.” She also observed that watching children react to the horses sparked excitement about the equestrian world.

Alexis Brooks, champion queen of the 40 Something Cowgirls, emphasized the importance of acknowledging women in the industry. “We love to support the Cowgirl (museum), and their support of women in the industry is just amazing,” Brooks said. She argued that women have been historically overshadowed by cowboys. “You always hear about the cowboys, but they wouldn’t have gotten it done without the women,” Brooks said.

Community members also attended to connect with the tradition. Luke Lee brought his 2-year-old daughter, Lillian, to the event. He held his daughter while petting the horses, noting that he missed the lifestyle of growing up around horses. “It means a lot because I got away from that and I kind of miss it,” Lee said. “Getting her around some of them is awesome.”

Brenda Brock Moe, president of the North Texas High School Rodeo Association, attended with students. She stated that introducing younger generations to rodeo is necessary to preserve the tradition. “In order to keep rodeo alive, you got to have an up-and-coming generation,” Brock Moe said. “Building traditions and building cowboys from the ground up is a good feeling. It means we’re not letting it go.” Jan Youren, a 1993 inductee, recalled the museum's origins in a library basement in Hereford, Texas. “It was one stand with four shelves and a picture with a write-up of each girl. Now, look what it is today. It’s unbelievable,” Youren said.