The Active Historian

Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I’m reviewing the exhibition, “Cowboy Boots: From Roundups to Runways” at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Let’s get started!

This exhibition covers the evolution of the cowboy boot from its invention in the nineteenth century to the modern cowboy boots we wear today. You will see boots worn by famous musicians, American presidents, rodeo stars, actors, and more.

There are several boot companies represented in the exhibition including: Hyer, Justin, Tony Lama, Lucchese, Blucher Boots, and others.

The photo below showcases the steps that go into making a pair of cowboy boots.

The boots in the photos below are early models of cowboy boots. They were created in the late-nineteenth century. The pair on the far right are US Cavalry boots from the 1930s.

The wall of boots is impressive because the colors, shapes, and styles are all so unique! Swipe to the second photo to see more information about each pair of boots on the wall.

Presidential Boots

The boots below belong Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

Governor & First Lady of Oklahoma

These boots belong to Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating and First Lady of Oklahoma Cathy Keating.

Tad Lucas – Hyer Boots

The boots below were worn by Tad Lucas! They were created by Hyer Boots and usually sit in the American Rodeo Gallery.

Justin Boots

The blue and red boots were created by Justin Boots. The red pair of boots are made of anteater, and I had never seen a pair of anteater boots before!

Fashion Boots

I LOVE the vintage butterfly boots because of the artistry and craftsmanship! A few weeks ago, I was shopping at an antique store and finally found a pair of vintage butterfly boots that were my size! I LOVE them and will post pictures on my Instagram soon! 🙂

The boots below are so pretty! I love the roses on the purple pair of boots. These typically sit in the American Rodeo Gallery at The Cowboy, but they were brought up for this exhibition. The lighting and glass case allow you to really see the purple color and back side of the boots!

Now, let’s talk about the gold boots… I LOVE the bedazzled heels on these boots. I literally told my friend I need to bedazzle the heel of my cowboy boots now.

Will Rogers

Will Rogers is pretty famous around Oklahoma and I thought the screens with the large photos were cool. Check out his boots!

Shirley Lucas

Shirley Lucas and her sister Sharon were trick riders! The green and red boots are so fun – I love the colors and the flowers. You can read more about the Lucas sisters in, It Takes A Good Horse.

André the Giant

The boots below were made for “André the Giant.” I would love to see him wear these boots with his costume from The Princess Bride!

Concluding Thoughts

I enjoyed visiting the museum and seeing all of the boots on exhibition. As a lover of cowboy boots, I loved seeing the details. The artistry and craftsmanship of bookmakers is unmatched.

“Cowboy Boots: From Roundups to Runways” is open through May 4, 2025, if you want to see it for yourself! If you go, make sure to let me know which pair was your favorite!

Happy Traveling, friend! I’ll talk to ya soon 🙂

Visit

1700 Northeast 63rd St. 
Oklahoma City, OK 73111 

Sources

Panels in the Exhibition

Mailers from The Cowboy

“Cowboy Boots: From Roundups to Runways” – National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Website