Best of the West: Persimmon Hill
Located along historic Route 66, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum was founded in 1955 in Oklahoma City with a mission to preserve and interpret the evolving history and culture of the American West.
“It’s not only a cultural landmark, but also a destination that connects America’s past to its present,” said Kerrie Booher, director of marketing and communications at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
The museum is committed to honoring the diverse people and stories that shaped the West and continue to shape it today — like the working cowboy, the artistry of western painters, the legends of rodeo and the living traditions of Native American communities.
Visitors can expect an immersive experience: world-class western art galleries, historic cowboy gear, rodeo artifacts, Native American history and even a replica frontier town. The Western Performers Gallery adds another layer, celebrating icons like John Wayne and Will Rogers and showing how film, television and popular culture helped shape the image of the West.
“Altogether, it’s a place where families, students and collectors alike can connect with the West in authentic and meaningful ways,” Booher said.
GOING WEST
The shop attached to the museum is called Persimmon Hill and is an extension of the museum itself. Named after the original site where the museum was built, its goal is to extend the museum’s story beyond the galleries.
“It’s a reminder that just like the museum itself, the shop is firmly grounded in the history and heritage of Oklahoma and the West,” she said.
Persimmon Hill is part of the visitor journey — a place where western art, history and lifestyle become something visitors can take home, wear or share.
“After walking through galleries that highlight art, history and western lifestyle, visitors step into the store and find items that let them take a piece of that experience home — whether it’s a book on cowboy history, a handcrafted piece of Native American jewelry or a cowboy hat,” Booher said.
Although Persimmon Hill has been part of the museum’s story for decades, it’s also become a destination in itself. Locals who may not be visiting the galleries that day stop by to shop, especially during the holidays.
“We love being that bridge between the museum’s mission and everyday life,” Booher said.
BRANDED BY HERITAGE
The store carries a wide range of western-inspired merchandise, including fine art prints, Native-made jewelry, home décor, apparel, books, toys, gourmet foods and unique gifts.
Bestsellers include Native jewelry, an extensive line of museum- branded apparel and accessories, books on cowboy history and art, and seasonal favorites like Pendleton blankets.
Western fashion is having a big moment — thanks in part to the popularity of shows like “Yellowstone,” Booher said.
“Cowboy hats, turquoise jewelry and retro-inspired apparel with a midcentury modern flair are especially popular,” she said. “People love items that let them channel a bit of that western lifestyle in their everyday look.”
Booher’s personal favorite is a navy blue T-shirt designed for the museum’s 70th anniversary. It features a vintage photograph of a billboard that once directed travelers to the Cowboy Hall of Fame — the attraction’s name before becoming the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
“It ties right into the retro midcentury modern look that’s so popular right now, and people love that it’s both stylish and a piece of our history,” she said.
Persimmon Hill works with local and regional artists, Native artisans and well-known western lifestyle brands. Booher said everything the shop stocks reflects the quality and authenticity that defines the museum.
“We try to balance authenticity, quality and appeal,” she said. “That means sourcing unique products that tie back to the museum’s mission, while also merchandising them in a way that tells a story — so guests can see how a piece connects to what they’ve just experienced in the galleries.”
