About the Exhibit

Black Cowboys: An American Story, a traveling exhibition from the Witte Museum, invites visitors to explore the lives and work of the numerous Black men, women and children — enslaved and free — who labored on ranches and participated in cattle drives from before the Civil War through the turn of the 20th century.

Exhibit highlights

• Black Cowboys: An American Story was conceived and organized by the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum joins the Witte Museum in celebrating the stories of Black cowboys.
• Historical and contemporary objects, photographs and personal stories convey the work and spirit of Black cowboys and reveal how Black men and women turned their equestrian skills to popular performances in rodeo, Western films and music.
• Videos created for this exhibition highlight individual Black cowfolk, past and present, who have kept these traditions alive.
• Museum visitors will discover how Black cowboys tamed and trained horses, tended livestock, and rode the trail with thousands of cattle across America. Over time, the roles of Black cowboys evolved as they used the skills they learned on the ranch and trail to own and manage ranches, serve as lawmen, compete in rodeos and perform as entertainers.
• Today, the lives and legacies of these historic trailblazers have inspired new generations to explore the Black cowboy culture of the past through contemporary expressions in music, film, fashion and design.

January 31 - July 26, 2026

Location: Museum, 3^rd Floor