Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

The cowboy is a distinctly American image. He spends his days in the sun, tending to his chores or duties. It's a hard life, but heroic in its own way. You've seen it portrayed in a bunch of Western movies.

That thought obviously led to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The slogan is "The West Begins Here."

Fine, but what exactly do you put in a Cowboy Museum? It's not that easy a question, since there aren't many personalities attached to the image - except for those in the movies (and they are well represented here).

Curators of this museum came up with a variety of ways to salute cowboys. There is a wing of attractive art pieces. Native Americans get their due in one area, as do rodeos. Do you want to see all sorts of types of barbed wire? This is the place. A Western downtown from the 19th century is recreated in "Prosperity Junction." Outside are some nice gardens, with a few statues, ponds and burial sites. The picture here is of a sculpture that greets visitors as they walk in. Very nice.

It's all well-presented, and done with an upscale touch. There aren't many cheap souvenirs in the gift shop. My guess is that the kids might get a little bored here after a while, so keep that in mind.

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