Celebrating 50 years of preserving ranching history, this exhibit traces the evolution of the National Ranching Heritage Center from a bold vision into one of the nation’s leading museums dedicated to preserving our ranching heritage and educating future generation about where our food comes from. Through a timeline, historic photographs, artwork and artifacts, discover the people, places and milestones that have shaped the NRHC’s legacy over the past five decades.

What You’ll See

• Explore early site plans and photographs of the Ranching Heritage Center.
• View memorabilia from founding members, John F. Lott, Sr. and Frank H. Chappell.
• Discover art inspired by structures in the historical park over the years.

Have you ever wondered what defines Western art?

Western Art or Western American art, is a genre of visual art defined by its subject matter rather than any specific style or approach; the subjects are related to the culturally rich and expansive American West and is inspired by a place and the people, animals and stories within it. Iconic subjects like cowboys, Native Americans and the vast landscape have inspired generations of artists.

Explore the world of Western art in this introductory exhibit to the renovated McKanna Gallery of Western Art. 

What You’ll See

• Art in various media inspired by the 6666 Ranch. 
• Art inspired by Western Landscapes – Frank Reaugh’s pastel landscapes painted in plein air on various ranches across Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
• Art inspired by the work done on the ranch – Working gear, including boots and spurs, is not only an important tool used every day on the ranch, but also an area of artistic expression that is an important part of Western culture.

At the focal point of the gallery space is the Heritage of the Wind sculpture by artist J. Christopher White, carved from a 2,000-year-old West Texas juniper tree found only along the stretch of cliffs and canyons known as the caprock of the Llano Estacado. The beauty of the grain is exposed to reveal the record of the weather patterns from centuries before Columbus ever sailed to America through the end of the 20th century. The result is a fluid medley of spins and twists, forming the music to the first nine notes of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” The resulting harmonies between the sculptor’s design and the original shape of the tree produce an artwork that conveys both the message of the artist and the rich heritage of the medium. Ultimately, both bring glory to the Creator of all. Heritage of the Wind is part of NRHC’s permanent collections, made possible by the Helen Jones Foundation, Inc.

Duplicating one of 11 bedrooms in the “Big House” at the Four Sixes Ranch headquarters in Guthrie, Texas, this is a permanent NRHC exhibit with items donated by Samuel “Burk” Burnett’s great-granddaughter, Anne W. Marion. The Four Sixes Ranch was founded by her great-grandfather, Samuel Burk Burnett, one of the most well-known and respected ranchers in Texas. Among the Burnett pieces are the brass bed, grandfather clock, secretary, side table, fireplace and mantle, rug, books and saddle (by saddle maker R.T. Frazier). The gold-plated chandelier was originally made to function using either gas or electricity.

About the “Big House”

In 1917, Samuel “Burk” Burnett built what he called “the finest ranch house in West Texas” at Guthrie, spending $100,000 and hiring the esteemed Fort Worth firm Sanguiner and Staats to design it as a ranch headquarters, residence for the manager, and guest lodge. Constructed with stone from the ranch and materials hauled in by rail and wagon, the 11-bedroom home hosted notable guests like President Roosevelt and Will Rogers. The house showcased rare artifacts, including gifts from Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, which remained there for decades before Burnett’s great-granddaughter, Anne W. Marion, donated them to the National Ranching Heritage Center. Despite having his own room in the house, Burnett preferred to sleep in the back of the nearby Four Sixes Supply House, where he kept his office.

Courtesy of 6666 Ranch. Read more about Samuel “Burk” Burnett, the Big House and the Four Sixes Ranch below.

Image of the Big House courtesy of Hardin Simmons University Library, date unknown