Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita is celebrating two events on one day: National Day of the Cowboy, and Wichita’s birthday.
On Saturday, July 24, 2021, visit Cowtown for a day of old west fun!
Photo credit: Keith Wondra. Used by permission. Thanks, Keith!
The National Day of the Cowboy celebrates the everyday working cowboy, the character who with words and deeds tamed the west. At the event, you’ll get to see demonstrations of the many skills that were required to do this tough, demanding, and unpredictable work. You’ll hear music and poetry that reflects the life they lived, and a presentation about Vaqueros – the forefathers of the American cowboy.
This is perfect, since we’ll also be celebrating Wichita’s birthday this month – remembering those who, by force of will, laid the foundation of the largest city in Kansas.
Cowtown Hosting “The Vaqueros” during Day of the Cowboy
During its annual Day of the Cowboy celebration, Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 W Museum Blvd., will host “The Vaqueros,” a presentation by Gene T. Chávez. At 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, the discussion will be part of Cowtown’s Day of the Cowboy event, an annual celebration of the workers who created the American West and their impact on the history of Wichita.
The ancestors of the American Cowboy, Vaqueros were traditional Spanish horse-mounted livestock herders. As American settlers moved west and tended to large herds of cattle, they adopted the methods of the Vaqueros. This presentation highlights the culture of the Vaquero and their unique influence on the tradition of the cowboy.
“Hispanic culture has influenced our way of life in so many ways,” Chavez said. “It is important to understand the contributions Hispanics have made to Kansas and to the nation.”
Gene Chávez is the founder and president of Chávez and Associates. He consults with groups throughout the country on bilingual education and cultural diversity. In addition, he has taught at the secondary and post-secondary levels in Kansas and other states.
“The Vaqueros” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Movement of Ideas Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and workshops designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
The National Day of the Cowboy event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the last admission will be sold at 4 p.m.
Regular admission applies, unless you are a Cowtown member or a teacher (then you will get in free).
Cowtown also participates in Blue Star Museums, so if you’re a member of the military, you and your family will get in free too!
Fun fact: Wichita was incorporated as a city on July 21, 1870. One of the signers of the incorporation petition – and the only woman – was Billy the Kid’s mother, Catherine McCarty. Interesting, right? I first learned about this at a Diamond W Wranglers performance, and then later looked it up in the history of Wichita at the Wichita Metro Chamber website.
Date: Saturday, July 24, 2021
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Old Cowtown Museum; 1865 W Museum Blvd. in Wichita
Cost: $9 adults, $8 senior citizens (62+), $7 youth (12-17), $6 kids (5-11)
No charge for children 4 and under, active military, and Old Cowtown Museum members
For more information, visit Cowtown’s website or Facebook events page.
2021 Events at Cowtown Wichita:
- Civil War Days – April 24 and 25
- Once Upon a Time – May 8
- Little House on the Prairie – May 15
- Steampunk Weekend – May 22 and 23
- A Day in the Life – June 12
- Kansas State Cowboy Fast Draw Competition – June 18-20
- Celebrate America – July 3
- National Day of the Cowboy – July 24
- First Friday Under the Stars – August 6
- Cowtown Throwdown concert (*not included with membership) – August 14
- People of the Plains – August 28
- Women of the West – September 4
- Wichita Intertribal Warrior Society Pow Wow – September 11
- A Night in Old Delano (18+) September 17
- County Fair – October 2
- Boos and Brews – October 8
- Hay, Hooves, and Halloween – October 23 and 24
- Ghost Town at Cowtown – October 29 and 30
- Victorian Christmas – December 3, 4, 10 and 11
- Breakfast with Santa (*not included with membership) – December 4 and 11
