A Day at The Museum

Every first weekend of the month, Bank of America cardholders can attend many different museums for free, just by presenting their card. If I am free I like to go exploring this vast city and what it has to offer that I won't find anywhere else.

On Sunday I spent a few hours at The Gene Autry Museum. This museum is dedicated to Western History and culture, it also combines various Native American perspectives. 

It is actually the first major American museum to recognize the support of the LGBT community to the American West. It started when a curator brought in the exhibit of shirts worn in Brokeback Mountain. They also have a section on the influence of the LGBT community in the West which has been very understated over the years by media. 

As you walk in there is a California's Designing Women Exhibit spanning from 1896-1986. It  displays different creations by women of the west specifically California. It includes, bathing suits, barbies, surf boards, glass designing, clothes and much more. Women in our society are still not seen as equals and this exhibit brings to the forefront so many local women who have been a great influence in design. Unfortunately, no photography was allowed in this section.

There is also an exhibit of Community, which interprets the West from a racial, ethnic and religious point of view. The saloon or bar was the center of many western communities. A classic saloon is displayed in the center of this exhibit. There is also a Billy the Kid Riffle for anyone who is interested. 

They have a cinema section called Imagination, where you can see many of the costumes worn by cowboys in Hollywood. Included are Gene Autry, John Wayne, Roy Rogers, James Arness and Duncan Renaldo. As for women there is Patsy Montana, Betty Hutton, and Katherine Hepburn.  They also have artifacts from Thelma and Louise and Brokeback Mountain. 

Their is a Colt gallery which is dedicated to the Colt Revolver and its influence on the West. It explores the different revolvers over time. They also have one especially made for their museum for the 175th Anniversary of the Colt.

Outdoors there is a beautiful waterfall for all those who love pictures. It is a great background for you and a "friend."

Needless to say I enjoyed myself and the exploration of the West. Try it out sometime when you have nothing to do and your in LA. It's across from the LA Zoo, also a great place to check out. Have fun and enjoy.