Cowboys: Then & Now

True story, legend, or myth?

Find them all in the men and women who settled the west. Cowboys, Then & Now  features a timeline tracing the history of cattle and cowboys in America.

Discover how domestic cattle made their way to America and became an icon of the American West. Explore cowboy tack and gear, breeds of cattle, and modern ranching practices, and learn how Hollywood played a role in building cowboy legends and lore.

We acquired this popular exhibit from the Oregon Cattlemen’s Foundation in 1997 when its original Portland home closed. Our successful request for proposal brought the cowboys home to the heart of cattle country.