Museums related to the American West and wild west are located throughout the United States. Here are some of the very best.
Autry Museum of the American West: Los Angeles, CA
The Autry Museum of the American West is a museum in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to exploring an inclusive history of the American West.
Boot Hill Museum: Dodge City, KS
Boot Hill Museum is an American historical museum located in Dodge City, Kansas. A non-profit entity, the mission of the museum is to preserve the history of the Old West with emphasis on Dodge City.
The Buffalo Soldiers Museum: Houston, TX
Research center dedicated to African-American soldiers with exhibits, workshops & reenactments.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West – Cody, Wyoming
Here, as in its original incarnation, the Buffalo Bill Museum’s focus is on the life and times of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody (1846 – 1917), the noted guide, scout, frontiersman, showman, actor, entrepreneur, town founder, and American icon.
Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave: Golden, Colorado
The Museum illustrates the life, times, and legend of William F. Cody. It includes exhibits about Buffalo Bill’s life and the Wild West shows, Indian artifacts and firearms.
California Trail Interpretive Center: Elko, NV
Between 1841 and 1869, up to 250,000 people sold their belongings, packed wagons, and set out for California. Learn the stories of the pioneers who endured the 2,000 mile trek; some seeking land, some gold, others seeking adventure, and some for reasons we may never know. Discover in their words 2,000 miles of adventure.
Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum
Year-round programming, exhibits and activities that celebrate the heritage and pioneer spirit of the American West.
C.M. Russell Museum: Great Falls, Montana
The Bison: American Icon, Heart of Plains Indian Culture and The Browning Firearms Collection: rifles, shotguns, and handguns that survey the significant developments made by Browning and the Colt and Winchester companies, with which he worked.
Cody Firearms Museum: Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY
The Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West houses the most comprehensive collection of American firearms in the world. In 1975, the Winchester Arms Collection, the heart of this museum, adventured west as a loan from the Olin Corporation. It was deeded as a gift in 1988. To date, the Cody Firearms Museum has over 7,000 firearms with more than 30,000 firearms-related artifacts.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency, MT
Memorializes the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry and the Sioux and Cheyenne in one of the Indian’s last armed efforts to preserve their way of life. The Date: June 25 and 26 of 1876.
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum: Oklahoma City, OK
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, with more than 28,000 Western and American Indian art works and artifacts.
New Mexico History Museum: Santa Fe, NM
The New Mexico History Museum and the Palace of the Governors National Historic Landmark are distinctive emblems of our nation’s history. We present exhibitions and public programs that interpret historical events and reflect on the wide range of New Mexico historical experiences.
North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum: Bismarck, ND
The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, located on the North Dakota State Capitol grounds in Bismarck, is the state of North Dakota’s official history museum.
Panhandle- Plains Historical Museum: Canyon, TX
Step in and step back to the Old West in a life-size Pioneer Town, view one of the Southwest’s finest art collections, experience the exciting history of the petroleum industry, and more.
Southwest Museum of the American Indian
The Southwest Museum of the American Indian is a museum, library, and archive located in the Mt. Washington area of Los Angeles, California. It is part of the Autry National Center. Its collections deal mainly with Native Americans
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum: Waco, TX
To disseminate knowledge and inspire appreciation of the Texas Rangers, a legendary symbol of Texas and the American West.