Oklahoma City

Bob and I took a much needed break from daily driving to linger in Oklahoma City for an extra day. What a nice feeling to be able to lounge in the morning rather than to pack up and go. There is a reason for our hurry, however. Having waited around to be a part of our grandson’s birth (and with no regrets at having done so!) we now are facing the possibility of winter weather as we cross the lower plains states and travel across the mountains of New Mexico. We want to be back in Mesa before it becomes much more difficult to travel. When we awoke this morning the temperature was a cool 36 degrees and the wind made it feel even colder.

Yesterday was fun-day, though, and we visited the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum here in OKC.

This is the largest cowboy museum in the world and features iconic Western artists such as Remington and Russell, a Native American Gallery, a replica frontier town, a rodeo gallery, and a gallery dedicated to cowboys in film. Here are some of my favorite images.

The original and largest copy of the sculpture, The End of the Trail, by James Earle Fraser

Grand Canyon, Kaibab Trail by Clark Hulings, 1873

Abraham Lincoln was considered a “western” president, signing the Homestead Act in May of 1862, the College Land Grant Act of July, 1862, and the Railroad Land Grant Acts of 1862 and 1864.

Prosperity Junction depicts a late 18th century western town at dusk.

ThIs triptych is one of six painted by Wilson Hurley which are the largest in the world.

This sculpture is called Canyon Princess, by Gerald Balciar

Today we are back on the road and headed for Vega, Texas for the night. The tape that Bob put on the side view mirror is not working very well but since it is a mirror with two sections he is able to use the bottom mirror and get by until a better fix can be found.