(Editor's note: PRCA media release)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy reopened its doors to visitors Monday, 91 days after closing due to the coronavirus lockdown.
The museum will adhere to the health and safety guidelines approved by the El Paso County Public Health Department including social distancing guidelines, cleaning guidelines, safety policies, etc.
“We are beyond thrilled to make this announcement,” said Hall of Fame Director Kent Sturman. “It has been a long time coming. We are looking forward to welcoming the public back to our museum. The health and safety of our staff, visitors and attendees is our priority. We have adopted two dozen policies and procedures to ensure that we will reopen the museum in the safest way possible.”
The approved safety plan is available on the Hall of Fame’s website and at the admissions desk in the museum.
Water fountains, touch screens and the Little Champions Arena will remain closed and off limits due to health department guidelines. The museum will not open the livestock exhibit this summer since it is already late in the season. All other areas of the museum will be open to the public.
The Hall of Fame will open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will extend those hours through Sept. 30. Traditionally, the museum returns to winter hours on Sept. 1, closing Mondays and Tuesdays.
“It is our intent to welcome visitors further into the summer and early fall,” Sturman said. “Since everyone has been at home and not able to travel, we anticipate that people will travel closer to home later into the year. We want to accommodate them and allow them time to visit our facility.”
A new exhibit is in the 101 Gallery at the museum and is ready for guests to enjoy. Entitled “Let’s Rodeo … The Art of Rodeo Posters,” the exhibit features a selection of posters ranging from the 1910s through 2019. Through its 100-year history, rodeo promotion has taken many forms. One of the most persistent forms is the rodeo poster. The posters featured in the gallery are from artists such as Larry Pirnie, Dave Merrick, Mike Scovel and Buck Taylor.
The exhibit also contains other types of advertising materials, including jackets, shirts, mugs and lapel pins.
Select National Finals Rodeo posters from several years are being sold as part of the exhibit to benefit the Save America's Treasures grant managed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services that the Hall of Fame was awarded in late 2019. The Hall needs to raise money to match the grant award of $95,500 in order to preserve the entire collection of 120 panoramic photographs dating between 1919 and 1959. This project will assist in that fundraising.
Visitors can stay up to date on any changes to the museum’s safety procedures, exhibits and upcoming events on a newly designed website at www.prorodeohalloffame.com.
