AUTRY MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN WEST

Description

Essentials about the Autry Museum of the American West in brief

Wild West fans have a must-see when visiting Los Angeles: If you’re a fan of covered wagons and horses, guns and rifles, banjos and harmonicas, and, of course, cowboys and Indians, you should head to the Autry Museum of the American West. Opened in 1988, the museum features more than 20,000 paintings, sculptures, clothing, weapons, tools and toys, instruments and other objects that tell the story of settlement and life in the so-called “Wild West.” The museum is located in the northeast corner of Griffith Park, adjacent to Los Angeles Zoo.

The history of the Autry Museum of the American West

In Germany, probably very few people know Gene Autry (except die-hard Wild West fans). In the USA and especially in the West of the country, however, the “Singing Cowboy” is a household name to a great many people. The singer, composer, actor and rodeo rider starred in nearly 100 movies from the 1930s to the 1950s and even had his own television show. Gene Autry, by the way, is the record holder among the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is the only artist to date to have been honored in all five star categories on the Walk of Fame. In 1998, the self-confessed Wild West fan founded the “Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum” to make the comprehensive history of the American West accessible to the public.

The exhibition in the Autry Museum of the American West

In the three thematic areas of Religion and Rituals, Land and Landscape, and Migration and Migratory Movements, visitors can learn about the many aspects of settlement and life in the American West. A special focus of the exhibition is also the presentation of Native American culture. With a collection of more than 230,000 items, the Autry Museum is second only to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., for Native American art.

In addition, the Autry Museum of the American West also hosts regular events such as lectures, film and music performances, and festivals on topics related to the history and culture of the American West. Particularly well known is the Native Voices play series, which stages plays by Native American playwrights.