The cowboy boot.
This quintessential form of footwear has been featured in history books, films and television shows depicting (sometimes loosely) America’s Old West. Alternatively, they have also been featured prominently on the fashion scene, worldwide as well as here in the U.S.
Whether you’re a rancher or farmer who wears “working” boots for everyday work and fancier footwear for a night on the town, a boot fancier who loves wearing them to add a western flair to their wardrobe, or an armchair historian with interests in cowboys and all things related, you’ll want to catch Cowboy Boots: From Roundups to Runways, running Feb. 7 through May 4 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Presented by Lucchese Bookmaker, a leader in the art of bootmaking, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the history, craftsmanship and cultural impact of one of the most iconic symbols of the American West.
During its heyday as an essential part of a working cowboy’s toolkit on cattle trails, to its rise to mainstream prominence in the early 20th century (including the rodeo scene) and its reemergence in pop culture as a fashion status symbol in the 21st century, the cowboy boot’s story is intertwined with both American history and contemporary culture.
Visitors will discover how the basic form of the cowboy boot—from the toe box to the pull straps, from the ornate to the understated—has endured, remaining virtually unchanged for over 160 years. From the heel to the toe bug, guests will discover the function and craftsmanship behind each component and learn how each detail serves both practical and aesthetic purposes.
Through a combination of artifacts, artworks, larger-than-life color graphics, video and audio presentations, guests will get a firsthand look at how cowboy boots are made and learn about the master craftsmen who transform them into works of art, as well as hardy footwear designed to protect the wearer from rattlesnakes, thorny bushes and other hazards.
Visitors can examine custom-made boots, including those worn by famous individuals; compare their own footwear to famous boot prints; and even design their own cowboy boot on a touchscreen.
“This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to examine the lasting legacy of the cowboy boot, which has played such a pivotal role in the landscape of the American West,” said David Davis, chief curatorial officer at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. “It will highlight some of the most extraordinary cowboy boots ever created, offering a one-of-a-kind look at this cultural icon.”
Boots that run the gamut of the pop culture spectrum also will be featured.
"These include boots worn by Western heroes of yesteryear, like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Johnny Cash and Andre the Giant, to modern-day icons like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and a special collaboration between Lucchese Bootmaker and Chris Stapleton," the curator added.
The museum has planned two brown bag lunch and learn events in conjunction with the exhibit: Oklahoma cowboy bootmaker Lisa Sorrell will present The Art of Bootmaking, scheduled from noon-1 p.m. March 6; bootmaker Ray Dorwart will present Evolution of the Cowboy Boot from noon-1 p.m. March 13.
For more information, visit NationalCowboyMuseum.org/exhibitions/cowboy-boots.
TRIVIA QUIZ
Test your cowboy boot knowledge in this fun trivia quiz:
1. During what period of time did the cowboy boot first make its appearance?
2. What are the two basic styles of cowboy boot?
3. What are the most popular toe styles found on cowboy boots?
4. What is a common accessory used with cowboy boots?
5. What are cowboy boots commonly manufactured from? (Bonus if you can ID more exotic materials)
6. Early cowboy boot designs were influenced by a ____ tradition originating in Spain.
7. Cowboy boots took a significant turn in the 1930s and ‘40s, with the growing popularity of _
Trivia Quiz Answers:
1. Cowboy boots trace their roots to the post-Civil War American West.
2. The two basic styles of boot are the western (or classic) and roper. The classic style is distinguished by a tall boot shaft (at least mid-calf), with an angled "cowboy" heel, usually over 1” high. A slightly lower, still angled, "walking," heel is also common.
3. Popular toe styles include snip, wide snip, square and round.
4. Cowboy boots were often worn with spurs, which are sometimes attached to the heel of each boot to cue a horse while riding.
5. Cowboy boots are normally made from cowhide leather (sometimes decoratively hand-tooled), but are also sometimes made from more exotic skins like alligator, snake, ostrich, lizard and eel.
6. Early cowboy boot designs, along with other cowboy accouterments, were heavily influenced by the vaquero tradition, which originated in Spain and dates back to the early 16th century.
7. In the 1930s and ’40s, the growing popularity of Western films (and later TV shows) brought a whole new dimension to the cowboy life in general—and to cowboy boots in particular. Bootmakers began experimenting with hand tooling, patterned stitching and colorful designs to keep up with the demand inspired by the fashion-forward boots worn by popular actors like John Wayne, Gregory Peck and Clint Eastwood.
"[The exhibit] includes boots worn by Western heroes of yesteryear, like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Johnny Cash and Andre the Giant, to modern-day icons like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and a special collaboration between Lucchese Bootmaker and Chris Stapleton."
“This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to examine the lasting legacy of the cowboy boot, which has played such a pivotal role in the landscape of the American West."