The Fort Worth Cowgirl Museum expansion opens Saturday, November 7, after a $19 million project added galleries, an indoor carousel and a redesigned entrance. The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame will offer free opening-day admission. New exhibits examine women’s professional rodeo history and Miranda Lambert’s stage wardrobe, while a parade marks the reopening.
Key Takeaways
- The museum’s 16,000-square-foot addition includes new galleries, education space and a 250-guest event venue
- Miranda Lambert’s Las Vegas stage costumes and an exhibit about 38 rodeo organizers are opening attractions
- An 18-horse indoor carousel offers rides without an additional charge
- Saturday’s parade begins at 11 a.m., followed by free public museum admission at noon
The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame will reopen to the public Saturday after closing October 19 to prepare its new addition. A ribbon-cutting Wednesday brought country singer and Hall of Fame honoree Miranda Lambert to the museum ahead of the public opening.
The changes go beyond exhibition space. The building now has a west-facing entrance, an indoor carousel and designated areas for school programs, while galleries connect historical rodeo records with contemporary Western fashion. The grand opening also coincides with the museum’s 50th annual Hall of Fame induction activities.
The $19 Million Addition Expands Galleries and Visitor Space
The 16,000-square-foot extension adds four gallery spaces to the museum at 1720 Gendy Street in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. It also provides a venue for up to 250 guests and space for kindergarten through 12th-grade programs, according to the museum’s expansion announcement.
The entrance has shifted to the west side of the building, near the arena complex. Linbeck led construction, EwingCole served as architect of record and Projectiles handled design architecture. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported that the City of Fort Worth provided more than $6 million in financing for the project.
On the second floor, the Cowgirl Carousel has 18 horses and a chariot. Barrango, a company based in San Francisco, created the attraction, which includes artwork by Fort Worth artist Catherine Cartie. The carousel features details based on horses owned by donors, and rides do not carry an additional fee. The museum is retaining existing displays, including the Bucking Bronc Room, Western Design Room and Hermès scarf collection. New galleries will occupy the addition rather than replace those collections.
Miranda Lambert’s Stage Costumes Open the Icons Gallery
The first exhibition in the new Icons Gallery displays costumes from Lambert’s 2022 to 2024 Las Vegas residency, Velvet Rodeo. The singer, inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 2021, attended Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Lambert told NBC 5 that a museum visit in 2021 influenced her concert wardrobe. After seeing historical cowgirl costumes, she shared ideas with stylist Tiffany Gifford. Lambert described the resulting concept as, “It’s like cowgirl Texas meets Elvis.”
The costumes connect the singer’s performances with the history of Western clothing in Texas. The museum also plans to use the new spaces for personal collections and fashion exhibitions, placing contemporary objects alongside historical material.
The gallery is part of a broader opening program that also includes photography and rodeo history, rather than an exhibition dedicated solely to the performer.
The 38 Exhibition Documents the Founding of Women’s Rodeo
A separate exhibition, The 38, examines the women who established the Girls Rodeo Association in San Angelo on February 28, 1948. The museum says the display uses photographs, objects and oral histories to explain their role in organizing professional competitions.
According to the Texas State Historical Association, 38 women from Texas and Oklahoma met at the St. Angelus Hotel. They created rules for women’s contests and a points system to determine champions. The organization later became the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.
The association’s founding officers included president Margaret Owens Montgomery of Ozona, vice president Mary Ellen “Dude” Barton of Flomot and secretary-treasurer Katherine Pearson of Brady. The exhibition provides organizational history behind the rodeo culture of Texas, including the rules and leadership that shaped women’s participation.
Another opening exhibition, Gravity Defied: Trick Riders of the Cowgirl, features 27 photographs of trick riders. It is the inaugural display in the museum’s new photography gallery.
Free Admission and an 11 A.M. Parade Mark Saturday’s Opening
Opening-day activities begin with a members-only preview at 10 a.m. The Cowgirl Grand Parade starts at 11 a.m., and the museum will open to the public at noon. Admission is free for the remainder of Saturday, according to the museum’s November 3 announcement.
The parade is scheduled to include horses and riders, Hall of Fame honorees, Western riding groups, community organizations and the TCU baseball team. Viewing along the route is free, with no reserved seating required. Food trucks are expected near the museum.
The route follows parts of Montgomery Street between Lancaster and Harley avenues, Harley Avenue between Montgomery and Gendy streets, and Gendy Street between Lancaster and Harley avenues. Closures are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.
Public parking will be available at the Western Heritage Garage and Yellow Lot on Trail Drive. Parking fees apply. The museum’s published opening-day schedule ends at 5 p.m., and visitors can enter through the new west-facing entrance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Fort Worth Cowgirl Museum expansion open?
The Fort Worth Cowgirl Museum expansion opens to the public at noon on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Members can enter at 10 a.m. before the 11 a.m. parade.
Is admission free on opening day?
Yes. The museum has announced free public admission throughout the November 7 opening day, starting when its doors open at noon.
What new exhibitions can visitors see?
Opening displays include Miranda Lambert’s Velvet Rodeo costumes, The 38 on the founding of women’s professional rodeo and Gravity Defied, a photography exhibition featuring 27 images of trick riders. These displays are part of the museum’s expanded gallery spaces.
Where can visitors park for the opening?
Public parking is designated at the Western Heritage Garage and Yellow Lot on Trail Drive. Fees apply, and streets along the parade route are scheduled to close at 10:30 a.m.
