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Chisholm Trail traveling exhibit

Chisholm Trail: Driving the American West

Traveling Exhibit


Next appearing at:

Bell County Museum
  • Location: Belton, Texas
    Dates: January 20 - June 18, 2023
Visit venue website →

The Chisholm Trail fundamentally changed the American West.

From the birth of the cowboy as icon to the revival of the cattle industry, the Old Chisholm Trail helped shape our popular culture by altering how we thought of the American West and the individuals who lived there.

The Chisholm Trail: Driving the American West is a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail. This traveling exhibit invites visitors of all ages to explore the Chisholm Trail from its inception in the late 1860s to today.

The exhibit design embodies the spirit of the West in look and feel. The materials and design methods evoke worn wood, torn paper, and oiled metal, imbuing your traveling exhibit space with an Old West feel.

Chisholm Trail traveling exhibit
  • Exhibit fee Starts at $120/day
  • Duration Flexible!
  • Target audience All ages
  • Square footage for full exhibit 1,500 ft2
  • Shipping fees use cost estimator
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Where History and Culture Cross Paths

The exhibit features a full examination of both the exciting history and the cultural impact of the world of cowboys, cattle, and the drives that cemented their status as icons in the American mind.


Explore sample interpretive panels

Download icon"The Birth of the Cowboy" Download icon"The Shape of the Trail" Download icon"Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"
Chisholm Trail panel detail
Chisholm Trail steer sculptures

Life-size Steer Sculpture

The exhibit centers around two lifesize steer sculptures made of steel.

Included A/V Content

The exhibit features a musical exploration of the cowboy song “The Old Chisholm Trail,” as well as clips from films such as The Old Chisholm Trail and Red River.

Chisholm Trail exhibit audio
Chisholm Trail exhibit video
Chisholm Trail cowboy attire
Chisholm Trail Cowboy as American Icon

Delivered & Installed

We deliver and install the exhibit, while you sit back and watch! It only takes a few hours to setup.

We dare you to find a traveling exhibit of this scale that takes less of your staff’s precious time!

Delivery & Installation Process
Overland Delivery and Installation

Chisholm Trail Schedule

Cost starts at $120 / day, with daily rate declining for longer bookings.

You set the schedule. Get a quote.


We're extending the tour! Reserve your spot today.

Upcoming Bookings

Oct 7 - Dec 16, 2024 - Midland County Public Libraries, Midland, Texas

Reserve the exhibit!

Past Bookings

Jan 12 - Mar 7, 2017 Symphony in the Flint Hills
Mar 9 - May 2, 2017 Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
May 4 - Jun 27, 2017 Caldwell Chamber of Commerce
Jun 29 - Aug 22, 2017 Lyon County History Center
Aug 24 - Oct 17, 2017 Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum
Oct 19 - Dec 12, 2017 Museum at Prairiefire
Dec 14, 2017 - Apr 3, 2018 Kauffman Museum
Apr 5 - May 29, 2018 Dane G Hansen Memorial Museum
May 31 - Jul 24, 2018 Elgin Hotel
Jul 26 - Sep 18, 2018 Kansas Museum of History
Sep 20 - Nov 13, 2018 Boot Hill Museum
Aug 29 - Oct 9, 2019 Old Cowtown Museum - Wichita, Kansas
Sep 7 - Oct 17, 2020 Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum - Temple, Texas
Cancelled - COVID-19
Jan 20 - June 18, 2023 Bell County Museum - Belton, Texas

Testimonials


“Flint Hills Design produces meticulously researched exhibits that are thoughtful, compelling, evocative, and beautifully crafted. Always mindful of visitor experience and museum resources, their exacting standards are on display with every exhibit they create.” Jami Frazier Tracy
Curator of Collections, The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

“Caldwell’s very existence was due to the cattle drives of the Chisholm Trail. Hosting the commemorative 150th exhibit in our beautiful Opera House during our annual Chisholm Trail Festival was the sparkling crown on this “Border Queen” city. A very professional and well-done exhibit.”
“This exhibit contributed immensely to our annual Chisholm Trail Festival & brought visitors in to pump up our crowd numbers. Perfect fit for us. Beautifully displayed in our renovated Opera House on the intersection of a state & a US highway. It received great attention. High school history classes and grade school toured our exhibit & local history.” Jill Kuehny
Caldwell Historical Society

Is this exhibit kid-friendly?

Absolutely! Here are a few photos of a visit with kids.

My boys have been asking endless questions about the Chisholm Trail, so we decided it was time for a visit to see the exhibit! They had a great time.

Posted by Flint Hills Design on Saturday, February 4, 2017

Man it's fun when an exhibit comes together! Only one week left until this one hits the road. It's gonna be great!

Posted by Flint Hills Design on Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Several of us enjoyed this year's Symphony in the Flint Hills signature event in Chase County today. Sketching new exhibit ideas while listening to great music in the middle of the prairie is tough to beat!

Posted by Flint Hills Design on Saturday, June 11, 2016

Founding Institutions


Thanks to the following institutions for being willing to support this project from the very beginning. We couldn’t have done it without you!

  • Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
  • Caldwell Chamber of Commerce
  • Eisenhower Foundation
  • Kauffman Museum
  • Boot Hill Museum