Oklahoma City KEY - Cover Story

People throughout the world have a fascination with the American West and much of the lure can be attributed to distinctive clothing worn by cowboys and cowgirls. More than 200 years of Western wear history is captured in "How the West Was Worn," a new exhibition at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. More than 150 items of clothing from buckskins to rhinestones, will be on display through January 4, 2004.

Organized by the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, "How the West Was Worn" brings to light the origins of Western dress from the styles of the Spanish, Mexicans and Native Americans to the popular influences of dude ranches, rodeos and Western movies.

Visitors will discover what celebrities like Gene Autry, Tom Mix, Roy Rogers and ZZ Top wore and learn about inventive tailors like Nathan Turk, Nudie Cohn and Manuel, key figures in the evolution of Western-wear design, who dressed clients in a style that continues to inspire fashion to this day.

While seeing How the West was worn, visitors will want to experience the new Western Performers Gallery for a glimpse at the history of the cowboy.

Presentations on the careers and contributions of the legends of the silver screen are blended with colorful graphics exploring the fascinating history of the Western film genre from Broncho Billy to the present. The Western Performers Gallery examines the role of fiction in our perception of the American West. Dime novels, Wild West shows, motion pictures and television all have contributed to the "West" of our imagination.

Through December 7, Museum visitors have the added pleasure of viewing the best of cowboy gear from across North America. The fifth annual Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Exhibition and Sale presents the finest in Western saddles, bits, spurs, braided rawhide gear and exquisite silver work by 14 master craftsmen.

You don't even have to don your cowboy boots and hat to enjoy this exhibit. But you might want to. One thing is certain, you will want to run - not mosey - because "How the West Was Worn" is on a limited engagement through January 4, 2004.

Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the nation's premier Western heritage museum, is located in Oklahoma's Adventure District at the I-35 & I-44 Junction. For more information, call (405) 478-2250, or visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org.

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