A Triumvirate of Western American Museums

A triumvirate of Native American and Western artifacts, culture/heritage and Western American history can be found in three of the best museums we have discovered: Jim Gatchell Museum; Brinton Museum; Briscoe Museum (and I will also append Custer Battlefield Trading Post although not a museum; however included since Putt’s collection of original Native America artifacts is impressive).

First, all these museums share a common narrative; each individual responsible for the collected pieces had an intimate and friendly relationship with American Indians and Indian Tribes. On that basis many items were presented as gifts by their Indian friends. Jim Gatchell grew up on a Lakota reservation, spoke their language and also learned Cheyenne. Bradford Brinton, born into a wealthy family and graduate of Yale, bought the Quarter Circle A Ranch in 1923. Although Bradford passed away in 1936 his penchant for collecting American Indian artifacts and fine art has left a lasting legacy. His enthusiastic interest in art resulted in his friendship with the likes of Hans Kleiber and Bill Gollings. Dolph Briscoe’s relationship with George Catlin resulted in the impressive and documentary color plate book, Catlins North American Indian Portfolio. The Briscoe Western Art Museum was established in 2013 in the old repurposed San Antonio Library on San Antonio Riverwalk. Putt, owner of Custer Battlefield Trading Post, maintains a lifelong friendship with Native American Indians and his interest in Indian artifacts has resulted in an impressive private collection.

The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum located in Buffalo, WY is an important collection of the American West. Located within the repurposed 1909 Carnegie Library building lays a multi-level display of Native American and Western items-a glimpse into our collective Western heritage. The museum’s focus is a presentation of frontier weapons, ranching gear, household items and Native American artifacts as well as dioramas of historical events in the 1890’s. Jim Gatchell opened a drugstore in Buffalo, WY in 1900 which became a popular place for settlers and cowboys. Also, Jim became known as ‘medicine man’ by the local Cheyenne Indian tribes; in return for medicinal treatments the Indians often brought Jim presents such as clothing and medicine bags. See my essay on the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum.

The Brinton Museum located outside Sheridan, WY was a welcome surprise. Nestled among the cattle ranches of Sheridan (located 2 miles southwest of Big Horn), of which the Brinton’s were a major cattle ranch in their own right and influencers in the region, is the contemporary museum built into a hillside. The museum and outbuildings sit on the Briton’s Quarter Circle A Ranch. This multi-level architecturally impressive building also includes a noteworthy restaurant. A good day trip will include a morning tour of the museum, lunch at their restaurant, and an afternoon tour of Bradford Brinton’s ranch house and of the ranch itself. The museum contains collections of artists, Hans Kleiber art, Gollings oils, and the Gallatin Collection of Plains Indian Art. We were most enthralled and captivated by the photogravure medium of the Plains Indian by Edward S.Curtis; do not pass up the opportunity to experience the raw and personal inflection in photography by use of photogravure. See my essay on the Brinton Museum.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum opened in 2013, located on San Antonio’s Riverwalk, we perceive as a significant contributor to Indian & Western history, to the recounting of the Northern Mexican Vaquero, and as a valuable curator of some priceless and noteworthy artifacts. Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe and his wife Janey Slaughter Briscoe are responsible for this concept. This expansive multi-story complex contains Native American sculptures and paintings; it also is a repository of the finest Native American artifacts to be found. Western history and culture is celebrated with artifacts from the Spanish war, cattle baron ranches and an impressive display of historical horse saddles (arguably the most impressive is the leather & silver saddle of Pancha Villa; the leather and silver parade saddle by Edward Bohlin). The Briscoe also includes the McNutt Outdoor Sculpture Garden and continuously changing exhibits emphasizing the importance of Western heritage culture and Native American culture which tell the story of the West and its impact on America in general. See my essay on the Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Finally, finishing the list of museums and added not as a real museum, but included due to the contribution by the owner to curate, collect and preserve Native American artifacts from the surrounding tribes is Custer Battlefield Trading Post. We first met the owner, Putt, three years ago and he was gracious enough to show us some of the artifacts he was given as gifts by the local Crow. When we again visited Battle of the Big Horn we stopped to visit with Putt and were not disappointed to be shown additions to his collection. See my updated essay on the Trading Post and updated pictures of heretofore unpublished items in Putt’s collection.

It is evident that the friendship with Native American Indians in their childhood years and their ongoing relationship with these tribes resulted in each of these individuals (Gatchell, Brinton, Briscoe, and Putt) unwittingly contributing to the preservation of Indian and Western artifacts for future generations to learn about and value Indian and Western culture.