WAYNE: AN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE MUSEUM ON JULY 27
No one needed to tell John Wayne to cowboy up. It was the role he was born to play. Of the many characters he portrayed in a career that spanned 50 years and an astounding 175 films, arguably none are more beloved than those he rode to stardom in some of the most iconic classic Westerns of all time. Colonels, lawmen, gunslingers, men of shaky reputation — Duke could do it all. And practically did, defining the American cowboy.
On Saturday, July 27, John Wayne: An American Experience, the museum that follows Duke’s life and legacy, will celebrate the National Day of the Cowboy. Guests are invited to see the recently expanded museum, which has grown by 30% to nearly 10,000 square feet of exhibit space and 4,000 square feet of newly outfitted retail space, John Wayne Stock & Supply.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests can participate in activations throughout the museum and the store. These include tastings of Duke Spirits, Wayne Family Estates wines and Gold Handle Coffee; chain-stitching, hat decorating and a chance to learn more about John Wayne Cancer Foundation, the charity created by Duke’s children after his death in 1979 from stomach cancer. Tickets for the event are $29.99 for adults and $17.95 for children ages 6-15, include museum admission and can be purchased here.
At 4 p.m., a separate ticketed event will begin. Guests can join members of the Wayne family for a celebration featuring book signings and photo opportunities. Plus, guests will be able to experience all the activations in John Wayne Stock & Supply, along with the museum’s new expansion. Tickets are $59.95 for adults, $22.95 for children, include museum admission and can be purchased here. You can also purchase all day access tickets for $69.95 for adults and $22.95 for children.
John Wayne: An American Experience is structured to give guests an intimate tour of the life of John Wayne. Starting with his early childhood and career, each room highlights an aspect of Duke’s legacy. Museum patrons have exclusive access to never-before-seen family photos and correspondences that have been thoughtfully curated by the Wayne family to give guests a holistic view of the icon, whose values translate both on and off the silver screen.
The museum has recently been expanded and part of the added space will be home to new, rotating exhibits. The first rotating exhibit, on display through Dec. 31, 2025, is The John Wayne Gun Collection - Guns that Won the West. The unique, curated collection of firearms spans four decades of John Wayne films, from The Big Trail (1930) to The Shootist (1976). This exhibit, curated in collaboration with John Wayne Enterprises and the National Firearms Museum (NRA), features highlights including the Remington 1861 New Model Army used by John Wayne in his first starring role, The Big Trail; the short-barreled large loop Winchester Model 1892 used in True Grit, Big Jake, Rooster Cogburn and The Shootist; and a Colt 1890 Gatling Gun used in The War Wagon and Rooster Cogburn.
The second rotating exhibit, also on display through Dec. 31, 2025, is John Wayne Family Portfolio Collection from Andy Warhol’s “Cowboys & Indians” Series. This 10-artwork collection showcases Warhol’s depictions of Duke, Annie Oakley, General Custer, Teddy Roosevelt, Geronimo, Kachina Dolls, Northwest Coast Mask, Mother and Child, a Plains Indian Shield and an Indian Head Nickel.
Donations to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation can be made at John Wayne Stock & Supply and at johnwayne.org.
WHAT: National Day of the Cowboy at John Wayne: An American Experience
WHEN: Daytime event: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 27
Evening event: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 27
WHERE: John Wayne: An American Experience
Fort Worth Stockyards
Historic Exhibits Building
2501 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, TX 76164
TICKETS: Daytime event: $29.95 adults, $17.95 children
Evening event: $59.95 adults, $22.95 children
All Day Access Ticket: $69.95 adults, $22.95 children
Purchase tickets here.
INFORMATION: johnwayne.com
About John Wayne Enterprises:
John Wayne Enterprises’ mission is to preserve and protect the name, image and likeness of John Wayne by associating the John Wayne brand with quality and timeless products and experiences that embody the spirit of John Wayne and give back to the community. To further its mission, John Wayne Enterprises enters into selective licensing or partnership agreements in merchandising, cancer research, treatment and education as well as public facilities, institutions and agencies. For more information, please visit www.johnwayne.com.