The Fort Worth Stockyards have never lacked for cowboy mythology, but for the past five years, they\u2019ve also housed something more deliberate \u2014 a family-curated record of how John Wayne shaped, and was shaped by, the American West. Opened in December 2020 inside the Historic Exhibits Building, \u201cJohn Wayne: An American Experience\u201d has grown into one of the district\u2019s most visited cultural stops, balancing film history with personal archive.<\/p>\n
The anniversary coincides with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo<\/a>, and the timing is intentional. From Jan.\u00a016 through Feb.\u00a07, the museum is marking the occasion with expanded programming and discounted admission, offering five dollars off walk-up tickets. Adult admission drops to $17.95, with reduced rates for seniors, students, and children, and kids 5 and under are admitted free.<\/p>\n Growth has been both literal and reputational. A 2024 expansion increased the museum\u2019s footprint to nearly 14,000 square feet, creating room for rotating exhibitions, a larger retail presence, and expanded event space. That additional square footage reflects how the museum has evolved since opening \u2014 from a single-gallery experience into a venue capable of hosting film anniversaries, educational tours, and art installations.<\/p>\n Those milestones have included celebrations tied to Wayne\u2019s late-career films, notably the 50th anniversaries of \u201cBig Jake\u201d in 2021 and \u201cThe Cowboys\u201d in 2022. Both events brought Wayne family members and co-stars to Fort Worth, reinforcing the museum\u2019s emphasis on firsthand storytelling rather than Hollywood gloss. Partnerships with Education in Action and Stockyards Heritage have also broadened the audience, introducing younger visitors to Wayne\u2019s work through guided tours.<\/p>\n Inside, the museum follows Wayne chronologically, starting with his childhood and early career before moving through his rise as a Western and war-film star. Guests encounter original family photographs, private correspondence, military costumes from his films, and awards that document how carefully Wayne\u2019s public image was constructed \u2014 and how closely it aligned with his personal values.<\/p>\n Two rotating exhibits anchor the current season. On view through Feb.\u00a028, \u201cThe John Wayne Gun Collection \u2014 Guns That Won the West\u201d spans four decades of filmmaking, from \u201cThe Big Trail\u201d in 1930 to \u201cThe Shootist\u201d in 1976. Curated in collaboration with John Wayne Enterprises and the National Firearms Museum, the exhibit includes firearms used in some of Wayne\u2019s most recognizable roles, including the short-barreled Winchester Model 1892 featured in \u201cTrue Grit,\u201d \u201cBig Jake,\u201d and \u201cRooster Cogburn.\u201d<\/p>\n Running through May 31, a second exhibition presents the John Wayne Family Portfolio Collection from Andy Warhol\u2019s \u201cCowboys & Indians\u201d series<\/a>. The ten works place Wayne alongside other American figures and symbols \u2014 from Annie Oakley to Geronimo \u2014 filtered through Warhol\u2019s unmistakable pop-art lens.<\/p>\n