Black and white image of cowboys

Imagined Wests

Ongoing

Ted and Marian Craver Imagination Gallery

About the Exhibition

In the long-term exhibition Imagined Wests, visitors of all ages can explore the ways we tell stories about the American West through pop culture, clothing, toys, art, archives, and other media. The exhibition features over 250 objects from the Autry collections, as well as multimedia and hands-on activities, including the museum’s popular “green screen.” The gallery asks, as we so often do at the Autry, “What is a Western?” 

Imagined Wests travels through Western storytelling landscapes, through retellings of history, and through the craft of many “West makers” from tailors to actors. We also explore the “view from here,” a focus on Southern California’s role as a place for stories.

Learn More

What is a Western? Film Series

The Autry’s long-running film series expands on themes in the Imagined Wests exhibition. Check here for upcoming films and past online programs.

a poster for the film westworld

Artist Conversation with Summer Yahbay

Joe Horse Capture and artist Summer Yahbay (formerly Peters) in conversation present an in-depth look at her works. Summer uses traditional Ojibwe artistic beadwork to create stunning contemporary pieces.

a tattooed woman in a red dress wearing a rose in her hair

Tabletop Frontier

This blog post explores a miniature Western town featured in Imagined Wests.

model of a western town

Based on a True Story

This conversation with historian John Mack Faragher and artist Weshoyot Alvitre (Tongva) expands on “historical imagination,” one of the key themes of Imagined Wests. Alvitre also participated in creating a Tongva display in the exhibition.

drawing of striking women

In Conversation with Lewis deSoto

Lewis deSoto (Cahuilla) speaks with Joshua Garrett-Davis, the Autry's Gamble Associate Curator of Western History, Popular Culture, and Firearms, discuss deSoto's work and popular culture storytelling of the American West.

a middle aged man with glasses

Linking the Lummis Family

This blog details collections data on family albums of Charles Lummis, the Southwest Museum founder, who is featured in Imagined Wests.

Charles F. Lummis, circa 1900. Autry Museum of the American West; P.35615

Sponsors

Imagined Wests is supported by The Ahmanson Foundation, Jackie and Gene Autry, Bank of America, David W. Cartwright, Marilyn B. and Calvin B. Gross, the National Endowment for the Humanities,* the Plummer Family, Lois Rice, Stanley B. Schneider, and Pamella and Johnny Zamrzla.  

*Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

Land Acknowledgment

The Autry Museum of the American West acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). We recognize that the Autry Museum and its campuses are located on the traditional lands of Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.

The Autry Museum in Griffith Park

4700 Western Heritage Way

Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
Located northeast of downtown, across from the Los Angeles Zoo.
Map and Directions

Free parking for Autry visitors.


MUSEUM AND STORE HOURS
Tuesday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

DINING
Food Trucks are available on select days, contact us for details at 323.495.4252.
The cafe is temporarily closed until further notice.