Featured image credit: Cmiller2001
Living in modern Los Angeles, it can sometimes be hard to remember that the American Old West wasn’t just a cinematic fairytale. But not only did those frontier days actually happen… they happened not too long ago. To give you some context, legend of the American West Wyatt Earp worked for the LAPD and as a Hollywood film consultant in his later years before his death in LA in 1929. But for Angelenos who really want to take an unflinching look at this complex time in American history and culture, nothing less than the Autry Museum of the American West will do. This frankly underrated collection of art, artifacts, and paraphernalia paints a comprehensive portrait of the American West in staggering detail. You can easily lose hours amongst its tastefully lit displays and exhibits. We’d even rank it among the most impressive museums of its kind in the nation.
View the American West from Every Angle
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Despite its vast collection, the Autry Museum is a relatively new addition to LA’s cultural landscape, opening in 1988. It was established by actor and musician Gene Autry (a.k.a. The Singing Cowboy), noted for his country music career and roles in numerous Hollywood Westerns.
When you consider a Hollywood museum dedicated to the Old West, there’s a lot that could go wrong. After all, cinema hasn’t often painted a complete picture of the complex relationships and cultural nuances that colored the history of America’s West. But the mission of the Autry Museum is to explore America’s history with the West in an inclusive light. This means taking a realistic look at the stories and cultures of its indigenous peoples as well as a scrutinizing analysis of America’s western expansion… warts and all.
An Illuminating Multimedia Journey
Where else can you find Annie Oakley’s gold-plated revolver alongside authentic Native American baskets and ceramics? Or contemporary Indigenous art beside silver screen artifacts, photographs of Billy the Kid, antique faro tables, and historical reviews of America’s pre-Civil War African American cowboys? The Autry Museum hosts a collection of over 600,000 artifacts, cultural materials, and more spanning the full spectrum of the American West. Textiles and tools, musical instruments and vehicles, weaponry and art… a full panoramic portrait of the West is on display.
As if that weren’t enough, the Autry Museum provides a plethora of community programs and events including lectures, festivals, music performances, films, and everything in between. Inside its voluminous walls, you’ll find an expansive library offering bountiful learning opportunities. They even offer research fellowships and scholarships.
The Evolution of the Autry Museum
However, it’s worth noting that the Autry Museum is a grander affair than it was when it first opened in 1988. It’s because the museum has been constantly evolving over the decades. In 2003, it greatly amplified its Native American representation with the acquisition of the Southwest Museum of the American Indian.
A decade later, it began an ambitious reorganization effort. Plans focused on the Irene Helen Jones Parks Gallery of Art and the Gamble Firearms Gallery. In the wake of these efforts, the exhibitions pivoted to thematic relationships, eschewing the limitations of chronological order to present a deeper understanding of the intricate interweaving of cultures and connections.
In 2022, the Autry Museum opened generous storage space in Burbank to accommodate an overflow of its collections. Underscoring its commitment to honoring the traditions and cultures of the peoples represented in its collections, the museum includes a ritual space in this facility. Indigenous peoples are free to access the stored collection and use its materials in their ceremonies.
An Underrated Experience Unique to LA
The Autry Museum brings in about 150,000 guests every year. This may sound impressive, but with the amount of quality material consistently on display, we’d classify it as proof that this LA museum is woefully underrated. Make it a point to take this in-depth journey into the heart of America’s West. The Autry Museum is conveniently located at 4700 Western Heritage Way just across from the LA Zoo in Griffith Park. Giddyup!
