Cowgirls paint up Fort Worth

By JULIET BRISKIN | Country World Central Texas

May 24, 2001 -- Women of the American West have served as inspirational role models for as long as anyone can remember. The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth is dedicated to preserving their legacy and passing the stories of these legendary women down to each new generation.

On May 19, close to 400 people turned out to help paint a 150-foot mural along the wooden fence that lines the site of the new museum building. According to Susan Fine, director of development and marketing for the museum and hall of fame, the purpose of the mural painting was to get the community involved with the museum.

"We are so glad to be a part of something so historic," said Dana Kelly of Fort Worth, who volunteered to paint the mural with her two young daughters Kate and Lynn. Mothers and daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters, and families from all walks of life were on hand for the painting event.

The mural will stay up until Feb-ruary 2002 when the building of the mu-seum is slated to be completed. Artist Jo Dufo provided the outline of the mural and the volunteers filled it in with paint provided by the museum.

About seven years ago the museum moved to Fort Worth from Here-ford and for the last four years the organization has been raising money for the new facility. Currently they have raised 91 percent of the $21 million that the facility will cost. The funds came from individuals, foundations, and grants.

The area where the museum is being constructed has been named the Western Heritage Center and eventually the Cattle Raisers Museum will be located adjacent to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, located across the street, is building an addition to house its western-oriented exhibits and the Will Rogers Memorial Center, home to year-round stock shows, equestrian events and community events are located near the museum site.

The museum is slated to open in June 2002 and will tell the stories of not just cowgirls, but women who have been pioneers in their fields in the West such as Georgia O'Keefe, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Patsy Cline. "These extraordinary women have become role models and heroines and that is what this museum is about," said Fine. Currently there are 153 women in the hall of fame and the museum is the only one of its kind in the world that honors and documents the lives of women of the American West.

"When you see the stories and read about these women you see that they were so amazing," said Fine. "They just didn't take no for an answer. When they knew something needed to get done they just went and did it. They did not let things stop them."

The permanent galleries will highlight the evolution of the cowgirls from the beginning of settlement in the West to the present day. The main rotunda of the 33,000 square foot facility will feature all the women inducted in the Hall of Fame. Traveling exhibits and educational programs featuring paintings, photographs and memorabilia will allow people all over the nation to experience the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in their home city.

In addition to the exhibits a multipurpose theater, hands-on children's center, an area to display traveling art shows and exhibits from other museums, a research library, and retail store will be included in the new facility.

Presently, the museum is located in temporary offices in downtown Fort Worth. For more information about the museum contact Patricia Riley, executive director, at 817-336-4475 or 800-476-3263 or visit the museum web site at www.cowgirl.net.