The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame has proposed a $19 million expansion project that would add a 16,000-square-foot wing to the west side of its current building in the Fort Worth Cultural District.
The expansion is significant as it would create a new main entrance for the museum facing Dickies Arena and the future Alice Walton Cowgirl Park. Plans also include the addition of four new gallery spaces and a 250-guest event space on the second floor. The museum operates on City-owned land under a long-term lease.
Founded in 1974, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the sole museum globally dedicated to honoring women of the American West who demonstrated exceptional courage and a pioneering spirit. It relocated to Fort Worth in 1994 and opened its existing 33,000-square-foot facility within the City-owned Will Rogers Memorial Complex.
To fund the project, the museum has already raised over $13.5 million and is seeking an additional $6.5 million from the City of Fort Worth.
Permitting and approvals for the expansion have been secured, and preliminary work such as relocating a transformer and employee parking is in progress. Construction is anticipated to begin as early as May 2025 and continue through the summer of 2026, with the expanded museum expected to open by the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in October 2026.
