9/17/2013:
On this date in 2010, the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora was officially recognized as the “American Cowboy Museum of the Year.” The award, presented at the 22nd annual American Cowboy Culture Awards banquet in Lubbock, Texas, put the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in the ranks of other award winners like the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; the Buffalo Bill Cody Heritage Center in Cody, Wyoming; and the Autry Museum in Los Angeles, California.
The award was a gratifying surprise to those who worked hard to plan and build the Hall of Fame. Several staff, Board members and Trustees attended the ceremony, which was just one part of the National Cowboy Symposium.
The nomination came from Sylvia Mahoney of Vernon, Texas, who spent several years working with service clubs to mark the Western Cattle Trail from Texas to Canada. She was in North Dakota in 2008 when the Trail was marked at the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. Mahoney was so impressed with the museum and the Cowboy Chronicle, she decided the facility deserved recognition on a national level.
The symposium began as a way to preserve the rich cowboy culture of the Texas Panhandle. It is a lot like a big county fair, bringing together artists, historians, musicians, poets and others intent on preserving western heritage and culture. There are also seminars on numerous topics and daily stage shows featuring some of the best entertainment from across the country.
More than 100 chuck wagons participated in the annual cook-off. The chuck wagons are historically accurate in every respect and owned by individuals, ranches or businesses. The crews are given a menu for the coming day, and the flour starts to fly. Everything has to be cooked from scratch, and people can buy tickets to sample the food.
About the award, a September 15 Bismarck Tribune editorial said, “The museum is a jewel in the public and private presentation of western heritage in Medora . . . North Dakotans believe their heritage is important, and the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame reflects that importance.”
Dakota Datebook written by Cathy A. Langemo, WritePlus Inc.
Sources:
ND Cowboy Hall of Fame Cowboy Chronicle – November 2010
Assorted printed materials from the 2010 National Cowboy Symposium