Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to show you around the Sid Richardson Museum in Downtown Fort Worth, Texas. This museum is located in the historic Sundance Square just north of the disco cowboy hat. Let’s go look around!
Who was Sid Richardson?
Sid Richardson was an oil man from Texas. He struck it rich in the Keystone field in West Texas and then he took his fortune and became a rancher, philanthropist, and art collector.
Richardson’s art collection features many pieces by the famous Western artists, Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. His collection features a handful of other Western painters as well.
During his lifetime, Richardson’s painting hung in his San Jose Island home and in his two-room suite at the Fort Worth Club.
In 1947, he established the Sid Richardson Foundation. Through the foundation, Richardson donated money to education, human services, and cultural initiatives in Fort Worth.
Sid Richardson passed away in 1959, but wanted to share his art collection with the public.
Museum History
The Sid Richardson Museum is located in the historic Sundance Square in Downtown Fort Worth. The doors opened to the public in 1982 and the museum was expanded in 2005.
The exterior of the building is made of red granite from the Texas Hill Country and ornamented with bronze brass buffalo medallions. The picture below doesn’t do the color of the granite justice – it is beautiful building to see in person.
Photos Inside the Museum
I have included several photos from inside the Sid Richardson Museum below! Frederic Remington is one of my favorite artists and I loved seeing so many of his pieces in one place.
TRAVEL TIP: This museum has free admission for visitors!
Frederic Remington
“Coming Through the Rye” by Frederic Remington (1902)
This was one of the first things I saw upon walking into the museum. I immediately recognized it and was so excited when the volunteer told me it was the original cast! I worked at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for a time and there is an enlarged version of this sculpture behind the museum in the gardens. I was so grateful to see the original!
“The Broncho Buster” by Frederic Remington (1909)
“The Cow Puncher” by Frederic Remington (1901)
“A Figure of the Night [The Sentinel]” by Frederic Remington (1908)
“Jumping on to a Horse” by Frederic Remington (ca. 1896)
“The Riderless Horse” by Frederic Remington (1886)
“Apache Medicine Song” by Frederic Remington (1908)
“The Love Call” by Frederic Remington (1909)
“The Luckless Hunter” by Frederic Remington (1909)
I was told by a gallery host that this painting is possibly the last painting that Frederic Remington finished before he passed away.
“A Taint on the Wind” by Frederic Remington (1906)
“A Misdeal” by Frederic Remington (ca. 1897)
Charles M. Russell
“In the Wake of the Buffalo Runners” by Charles M. Russell (1911)
“Utica [A Quiet Day in Utica]” by Charles M. Russell (1907)
“When White Men Turn Red” by Charles M. Russell (1922)
“Will Rogers” by Charles M. Russell (1926)
Misc. Artists
“Rancheros Visitadores Hat” decorated by Joe De Yong
I looked at the hat on exhibition and thought it looked very familiar. Upon getting back home and writing this article I realized I had seen this hat before because it is a part of the collection from The Cowboy and was on loan. One of the former curators at The Cowboy had shown this piece to me down in the vault for a social media post! It was cool to see it on exhibition where many people could see it.
“Contrabandista a la Frontera” by Frank Tenney Johnson (1925)
Movie Posters from the current special exhibition, “Cinematic West: The Art that Made the Movies”
I loved this activity below for kids to draw their own movie storyboard. They had a place for you to hang your storyboard if you didn’t want to take it with you.
Parade Saddle made for Sid Richardson by Edward H. Bohlin (1947)
Concluding Thoughts
I enjoyed finally seeing this museum in person! Several people recommended this museum to me because I love Frederic Remington’s work and seeing these pieces was a dream come true.
I hope you’ll stop by this museum next time you’re in Downtown Fort Worth. Happy traveling, friend! I’ll talk to ya soon 🙂
Visit
309 Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
TRAVEL TIP: I called ahead of time and they graciously let me store my suitcase in a closet while I looked around the museum. If you’re traveling – just call ahead to see what your options are!
Sources
Sid Richardson Museum – Website
Mr. Ronnie – Museum Volunteer
Information plaques on the walls
The Active Historian 
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