Giddy Up for National Day of the Cowboy
Annual Celebration Pays Tribute to a Slice of the American West
For Immediate Release
June 3, 2022
Chickasaw Country, Okla. - Oklahoma is one of 15 states that recognizes National Day of the Cowboy, held annually on the fourth Saturday in July. This year travelers can celebrate cowboys (and cowgirls) in Chickasaw Country, located in the state’s south-central region, and discover the excitement of cowboy culture through a series of events, destinations, food and more. While National Day of the Cowboy takes place on Saturday, July 23, the wrangler way of life resonates throughout Chickasaw Country all year long.
National Day of the Cowboy – July 23 – Duncan, Oklahoma
The town of Duncan, whose famous sons include actor and director Ron Howard as well as folk singer Hoyt Axton, will host an all-day celebration at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. This year’s theme is “Three States, One Trail” and includes cowboy music and poetry with food and vendors to match. A series of kids’ activities will include roping, singalongs, yodeling lessons and the art of making things out of leather. In addition, there will be cowboy art on display featuring the works of local photographer Dee Dodson as well as a special presentation by cowboy and military cartoonish and photographer Daryl Talbot and a salute to veterans.
The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center is a fascinating place to channel your inner buckaroo. Jesse Chisholm established his namesake trail, along with Black Beaver, a Lenape guide and rancher, as a means to drive cattle overland from the ranches in Texas to the railheads in Kansas following the end of the Civil War. The museum gives visitors a glimpse into what it was like out on the trail through art exhibits and storytelling. The Experience Theater makes audience members feel as if they’re part of the pack as the room shakes during a thunderous stampede, while the smell of bacon sizzling on the fire fills the air and raindrops scatter across the heads of the unsuspecting. Other things to see are the recreation of Duncan’s general store where cowboys picked up supplies as well as the interactive displays where guests can toss a rope around a Longhorn steer or ride a bucking mechanical bronco.
Gene Autry, Oklahoma
In 1941, just a few years after Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy, purchased 1,200 acres--about twice the size of New York’s Central Park--on the west edge of Berwyn, Oklahoma, for his Flying A Ranch, the town was renamed in his honor after all 227 residents signed a petition. The official name change took place on November 16, 1941, which also marked Oklahoma’s 34th anniversary into statehood. The all-day event was attended by 35,000 people, including the governor, and culminated with Autry broadcasting his CBS Melody Ranch radio show live on the railroad tracks from a flat car. This all took place just three weeks before the U.S. entered World War II. Autry would end up selling his ranch following the war, but his legacy would live on. In 1990, the town transformed an empty schoolhouse into the Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum, and the first Gene Autry Oklahoma Film and Music Festival was held the same year. The 32-year celebration takes place every September and lasts several days.
Love County Pioneer Museum
Discover the life of a pioneer at this unique museum in downtown Marietta. On display is everything from antique farming equipment to the humble homes that early settlers lived in. The museum also does an incredible job illustrating what life was like in Love County during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Saddle Up in Sulphur
To truly appreciate the cowboy lifestyle, visitors need to get in the saddle and take a ride on horseback. Arbuckle Trail Rides in Sulphur, as well as Lake Murray Riding Stables in Ardmore, offer rides for both the novice and the pro.
Get Your Grub On
Sample authentic cowboy cuisine at Bob’s Pig Shop in Pauls Valley – serving some of the best barbecue for nearly 90 years. Ole Red in Tishomingo, owned by celebrity and local resident Blake Shelton, also features a menu of hearty fare including steak, burgers and fried chicken.
For more information about National Day of the Cowboy or all that Chickasaw Country has to offer, visit www.chickasawcountry.com.
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About Chickasaw Country
Located in south-central Oklahoma, Chickasaw Country is a regional tourism organization representing 13 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. As the official destination tourism organization, Chickasaw Country includes 7,648 square miles, 11 percent of Oklahoma’s total 68,597 square miles. Chickasaw Country, a division of the Chickasaw Nation, is a tourism source for visitors and communities within the region and promotes destinations, attractions and festivals. Chickasaw Country is a diverse and culturally vested destination, with new adventures and experiences at every turn.