Autry Museum of the American West

The Autry Museum of the American West is a Los Angeles, California, museum that not only features a wide range of exhibits but also includes public programs such as lectures, film screenings, theater performances, family events, festivals, and music. In addition, the museum supports research and conducts education outreach across its two sites in Griffith Park and on Mt. Washington.

The museum was established in 1988 by Gene Autry to showcase the story of the American West and its cultures. The collection includes many rotating exhibits celebrating the significance and history of the American West.

The location includes various indoor and outdoor facilities, including a statue in honor of Autry.

Within the museum, visitors will find a wide range of historic artifacts including textiles, a coach, Annie Oakley’s guns, and various other pieces of importance.

One of my favorite exhibits included a room full of Silent Era Western movie posters.

I was also fascinated by Cecil B. DeMille’s Pate Freres 1913 motion picture camera as well as his typewriter.

Additionally, I was blown away by a stunning mural on the basement level of the museum. In particular, I enjoyed seeing the references to classic film stars who worked in Westerns.

There was also a small display in honor of Autry himself on this floor.

Learn more about the Autry Museum of the American West here.

About Annette Bochenek

Dr. Annette Bochenek of Chicago, Illinois, is an avid scholar of Hollywood’s Golden Age. She manages the Hometowns to Hollywood blog, in which she writes about her trips exploring the legacies and hometowns of Golden Age stars. Annette also hosts the “Hometowns to Hollywood” film series throughout the Chicago area. She has been featured on Turner Classic Movies and is the president of TCM Backlot’s Chicago chapter. In addition to writing for TCM Backlot, she also writes for Classic Movie Hub, Silent Film Quarterly, Nostalgia Digest, and Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine.
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