Fort Worth’s John Wayne Museum celebrates its expansion in the historic Stockyards on July 27, National Day of the Cowboy.
Grit, integrity, and courage: The world needs more John Wayne. And we’re getting it with the expansion of John Wayne: An American Experience, an intimate glimpse into the Western icon’s life in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. Located steps away from the daily longhorn cattle drive, the museum has added 3,500 square feet of exhibition space and doubled the size of its gift shop for a total of 14,000 square feet. Members of the Wayne family will be on hand for the expansion’s opening party on July 27, the National Day of the Cowboy.
“It will make you fall in love with John Wayne all over again,” says Lacy Matsler-Murphy, experience director at the museum. One of the expansion’s highlights is a new collection of firearms, anchored by a 700-pound Colt Gatling gun from 1890 that appeared in the movies War Wagon and Rooster Cogburn. “It took six guys to get it into the door,” says Matsler-Murphy. You’ll also see a double-barrel shotgun from Cahill U.S. Marshall, a Colt Walker revolver from True Grit, and a Winchester rifle from Rio Lobo — plus guns from The Shootist, Big Jake, and McLintock.
Another impressive addition is a 10-piece collection of Andy Warhol originals from the pop artist’s Cowboys and Indians series, including a portrait of John Wayne wearing a Stetson hat. Buoyed by brilliant colors and heavy linework, the images depict Western legends like General Custer, Geronimo, and Annie Oakley. Warhol used Wayne’s likeness without permission and, following a legal settlement, his family wound up with the prints.
Nearby is a new wall of framed letters, handwritten notes, awards, and photographs inspired by Duke’s own home. Hand-drawn pictures by his fans speak to his deep connection with the American public, as does the mountain of unopened get-well-soon cards he received in the hospital while battling cancer. He passed away before he had a chance to read them.
Wayne’s essence extends to the enhanced retail space, which now sells furniture, glassware, artwork, and cashmere throws. “It feels like you’re sitting in his living room,” says Matsler-Murphy. “The hats are on the wall, it’s comfortable, and really represents who he was.” Everything is inspired by the contents of Wayne’s three storage units, discovered by his family a decade after his death.
“They opened up that door and his Academy Award was sitting on top of the boxes wrapped in an old dish towel,” Matsler-Murphy says with a laugh. The journals, leather goods, and home furnishings they found inspired the contents of the gift shop, where everything you see is for sale — from the wall art to the rugs. Shoppers will also find antique gun holsters, Duke onesies for kids, and signature jewelry and silverwork by the Bohlin Company that is only sold at the museum.
During the expansion party on July 27, guests can have their purchases embellished with engraved messages, hats decorated, or chain stitching embroidery done. Along with cocktails and an oversized charcuterie board, there will be tastings of Wayne Family Estate wines, Duke Spirits, and Gold Handle Coffee Co. Live music by Moses Rangel will set the stage for photo ops and book signings with six Wayne family members.
“The family will stop, and they’ll tell stories, and laugh, and have a couple cocktails. They may even open a letter or two out of all the big bins of letters that have never been opened, just to see if they find anything juicy,” says Matsler-Murphy. Partygoers can explore the entire exhibit, including his cowboy hat collection, Academy Award, and the 1976 Pontiac Grand Safari he customized with a higher roof (so he wouldn’t have to take off his hat).
John Wayne was indomitable, larger-than-life, and above all American. “He represents those values everyone holds so dear, and that not a lot of people have anymore. He made you want to be a better person when you were in his presence,” says Matsler-Murphy. “There will never be another man like him.”
John Wayne: An American Experience is located at 2501 Rodeo Plaza in Fort Worth, TX, and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tickets to the museum and the expansion opening party on July 27 are available at www.johnwayneae.com.
