Wild West Women

Yesterday my sister Denise organized an outing for our sister group.  We met for lunch at Pasta Pastarini and then headed to the Oregon History Museum to see a show called "Tough by Nature - Portraits of Cowgirls and Ranch Women of the American West".  It was put together by Lynda Lanker (click on her name to find out more.) I hope you will enjoy seeing these images as much as I did.

Below is the logo for the show at the entrance to the exhibit.

The first painting is this huge glorious one of an Indian woman on a paint horse all bedecked in her beaded leather regalia on the edge of a canyon.  Sorry its crooked, but I had to stand off-sides to lessen the reflections.

I love this one of an older woman with her rifle. 

Another older woman with her horse. 

Gorgeous rider carrying her saddle and rope. 

A women dressed for work outside, inside for a bit with her dog.  

Western woman with her 2 sons. 

Proud young woman with her baby.   

I love this one, as Western farm women take care of feeding their animals and raising babies of all kinds. 

I love the glorious abandon of this woman.  Can you read what she wrote around the edges?  You can click on the photo to make it larger. 

Here's a tough young Western girl with her motorcycle! :-) 

The next exhibit was about the 50s - here is a wonderful vintage trailer all set for the road and a camping trip.   

The back opens up and there is a compact little kitchen.  Isn't this neat?

On to the next exhibit which is about early Oregon.  I simply loved this full-sized authentic covered wagon, it's displayed on top of a map of the Oregon Trail.  It has all the items that were carried in the wagon to set up a homestead when the families made it to Oregon.  

The inside shows some of the things brought along, there is a spinning wheel back in there.

There is also a few chickens taken along for food along the way.

Some would set up a tent at night to sleep in along the way.  Some would sleep inside their wagon, but there was little room inside for doing so, some would sleep under the wagon at night.

I loved seeing some strands of trade beads, I have some just like these!  Lewis & Clark brought these on their expedition of discovery to trade with the Indians for food and furs along the way.

One room had all sorts of sea-faring artifacts, and a recording that made you feel like you were at sea, with creaking wood beams of a ship, the sound of the ocean and sea gulls calling.  That was fun! 

They also had a nice section of local Indian artifacts, such as these wonderful woven baskets, cedar baskets, wooden carved bowl and a carved stone implement. 

A beaded and painted leather shirt or coat - whatever it is, it kept it's wearer warm and dry. 

I got a close up of the glorious basket in this case - I adore the animal images woven into this basket and the leather lining.

One display case had a full sized carved Indian canoe with other artifacts inside. 

They made hats to protect them from rain and cold.  I would love to have one of these! 

And beaded moccasins. 

I loved this painting, it was so skillfully done that the light looks wonderful.  This is a vintage painting of Mt. Hood.   

I hope you enjoyed our trip to the Historical Society!!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)