'Sometimes frightening, sometimes funny, but always genuine and fascinating, "Gittin' Western" opens a window into a lifestyle most of us have dreamed about but few dared to pursue. Heartily recommended." -Kathy Tyers, best-selling author of "Firebird Trilogy" 'Duane tells an engaging story in an authentic voice. Along the way you'll laugh, be surprised, and feel both joy and sorrow. You'll come to know the West, the embrace of its open spaces, and the dream that pulls him and his family in a fresh and vivid way." -Jenna Caplette, writing coach-www.justwrite.com At the age of thirty-five, author Duane Wiltse 'pushed all his chips into the pot" and left Michigan to pursue his goal of establishing a big game hunting business. Through forest fires, bear attacks, and runaway horses and mules-not to mention the elusive trophy bull elk, government bureaucracy, helpful New Mexico Indians, more than a few Tennessee rednecks, and the loss of his wife, Wiltse learns first-hand lessons of life and death. Wiltse's story reveals the complexities of a maturing man, father, and husband struggling to achieve a dream.

Journey through the dusty plains of Texas and the rugged mountains of Colorado in author Jim Duke’s debut, DANCES WITH DONKEYS: The Memoir of a Half-Assed Cowboy—the often hilarious, occasionally poignant, sometimes hair-raising, and always entertaining tales of a man who dropped out of high school and took off for Texas to become a cowboy. In this captivating memoir, Duke recounts his adventures and ass-inine misadventures with mules, donkeys and horses as he introduces readers to the complexity and variety of personalities among these intelligent creatures. Through prose and poetry, he shows the deep bond that can form between humans and equines. Whether you're a fan of cowboy culture or just love a good memoir, DANCES WITH DONKEYS is reminiscent of cowboy poet laureate Baxter Black with a twist in the saddle. You'll laugh your "ass" off and come away with a whole new understanding of why little boys (and girls) grow up dreaming of being cowboys. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind journey into the heart of the American West.

In June 1965, the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center, as it was then named, owned a mere handful of artifacts. In fact, the Oklahoma City institution was forced to borrow materials in order to mount exhibitions to support its inaugural events. From that modest beginning, the center, now known as the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, has grown into perhaps the world’s most respected repository for the study and understanding of the diverse cultures of the American West. But, as Bobby D. Weaver demonstrates in this no-holds-barred history, the path from those humble origins to the esteemed position the museum occupies today led through some rough-and-tumble times, including a period of receivership. The autocratic style of the founding director, coupled with certain early less-than-ethical practices, forced the museum into what Weaver delicately terms “a legal tangle” that required a complete organizational and financial overhaul. With renewed professional leadership and the steadfast support of dedicated patrons and sponsors, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum has developed and changed along with evolving understandings of the culture it was founded to celebrate. What was once a shrine to a particular manifestation of American frontier life has transformed into a world-class art and historical museum that represents the broad sweep of the American West—both lived and imagined—with its full range of social, ethnic, and economic diversity. As Weaver relates, today’s institution is well poised for the future as it furthers its mission of preserving and interpreting the heritage of a vital American region and its lifeways.

Celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of this premier museum in Oklahoma City, offering both an institutional history and a captivating collection of photographs representing its extensive holdings. Simultaneous.

From reviews of the first edition: "Richly illustrated . . . this handsome volume presents the rugged beauty and rowdy spirit of life on the frontier, as captured by two master painters." —Art Gallery International ". . . large color plates beautifully reproduce dashing, romantic scenes of frontier life created by two of the West's foremost portrayers." —American West "The many devotees of Remington and Russell and of Western art in general will want to add this handsome volume to their collection." —Arizona Highways "... the University of Texas Press, as one would expect, has produced a beautiful book ...." —Montana Since its original publication in 1982, Remington and Russell has become an essential introduction to the work of these artists, and this revision substantially enhances the book's strengths. Every painting in the Sid Richardson Collection has been rephotographed for this edition, including one Russell and five Remington paintings not included previously. Numerous black-and-white illustrations have also been added to give insight into the evolution of the paintings. Brian Dippie has considerably amplified his commentaries on each painting with new information. His revised introduction places Remington and Russell in the historical and cultural contexts of their time and draws intriguing comparisons between the two artists.