Black Cowboys: An American Story

Black Cowboys: An American Story, opens November 6, 2021 at the Witte Museum. Explore the lives and work of the numerous Black men, women and children – enslaved and free – who labored on the ranches of Texas and participated on cattle drives before the Civil War through the turn of the twentieth century.

This powerful exhibition will feature artifacts, photographs and documents depicting the work and skills of Black cowboys. Black Cowboys: An American Story will offer insight into legendary cowboys, a clearer picture of the Black West, and a more diverse portrait of the American West.

Visitors will be transported through time to meet a variety of real Black cowboys and appreciate their deep impact on American History. Guests will discover how they tamed and trained horses, tended livestock and rode on the trail with thousands of cattle across America.