The Autry Museum: A Must-See Destination for Fans of the American West

The Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles' Griffith Park has one of the finest collections of old west history in the world. Founded in 1988 by Gene Autry, the museum has in its collection items that once belonged to noted wild west legends such as Pat Garret, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickock, and supposedly even Billy the Kid.
Along with the museums collection of artifacts belonging to old west legends, the Autry does an amazing job at telling the story of the American West. From the cowboys, the lawmen, and even the stories of the women, children, and migrants.
In addition to the American West, the Autry also has exhibits on the history of Griffith Park, the waterways of the west, and California's native plants.
The museum is truly a must visit for anyone who is interested in western history.
The Autry Museum of the American West is located at 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027
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[@Me97202]

I used to work at one of Gene Autry’s radio stations. Met him a couple of times.

[@secretdaisy6484]

That was absolutely FABULOUS for me! I am crazy about the old West. All of it. I rode and showed horses, English style hunter seat, jumping etc. all through my childhood but I insisted on wearing cowgrrl boots all the time unless in a show. I named my favorite paint pony Calamity Jane! I have to see this museum when I come out West. I have a hat, boots and spurs for going on trail rides in Wyoming or Montana or some place. I can’t thank you enough for this video. Everything you do is interesting and I appreciate all the research work you do for the channel. Keep on posting and be safe 🆘. 👍☮️🌞🐎❤

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yeah, you should definitely check it out. You could easily spend all day there, but there are stables near by too.

[@donnamusick159]

Whenever there was a rainy Saturday when we couldn't do something outdoors, Dad would take us to the Southwest Indian museum. My maternal great grandmother was native Indian so the displays were fascinating to me. I looked forward to those trips. I didn't realize that it had been merged into the Autry museum. Looking forward to seeing this one. Thanks for the information

[@christinatrott3029]

My favorite actor, Clu Gulager(The Tall Man) liked to go there and shared a picture from one of his visits. You were standing right where the picture was taken. 😊

[@VintageCarHistory]

The old Roy Rogers and Dale Evens Museum up in Victorville shut down some time ago, but I think some of the artefacts pictured in your video came from there. In any case, I absolutely love this channel, and I've chosen you for the Shout Out in this coming Tuesday's 'Ye Ol' Garage' on my channel.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I used to go to the Roy Rogers Dale Evans Museum as a kid on our way back from Vegas and I'd heard after the Branson version of their museum shut down the Autry got a lot of the stuff, but with the film section under renovation I didn't see any mention of Roy Rogers while I was there. Thank you for the shout out too. I'll keep an eye out for it!

[@joseleswopes1400]

Wonderful I remember watching and listening to Gene Autre. His music and movies are still played today which is Awesome 😎💕🙏. My favorite Levi's are the Button Fly 501's💕

[@Wingman115]

Thanks for taking us along.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Our pleasure!

[@wpmulligan]

That new ballcap is pretty stylish!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks, its my disguise cap! I figured since I was going to be so close to Dodger Stadium I should blend in some haha

[@sondrajoyce8810]

OH! he was my favorite! I use to go to his movies at our Fuller Theatre. Also, on T.V. in the 50's......oops, I'm giving away my age...... I definitely am a fan of the Old West. When we traveled in our motor home we spent most of our time seeing all the west - visited the area in Montana that was Custer's Last Stand. Beautiful, educational museum!

[@johnnyfreedom3437]

I really enjoyed this video steve, like I enjoy all your videos! As I've said before, you take me places I can no longer go! So I can still travel even though I'm old and decrepit! See you in the next one! Keep them coming!!

[@DesertNebula]

My dad always took my brother and I! We called it the cowboy museum 🏜💗

[@joewenzel5142]

Excellent bronze statues outside the museum - no expense was spared.

[@scotcoon1186]

It's amazing what some places can put together when expenses have to be spared. The Legacy of the Plains Museum at the base of Scottsbluff national monument in Gering, Nebraska, is a good example.

[@richardweaver9682]

WOW I was there in the early 2000's and the museaum has expanded big time! Hopefuly I can get thre again 20 years later to see the changes.

[@petecollins4925]

Still playing catch up with your older videos Steve. Was interesting to see those old movie posters, while I was marking time waiting to retire I worked part time at a local supermarket to avoid boredom. The business was next to a massive old cinema which was a listed historic building but hadn't been in use for years. In the staff canteen of the supermarket we had some really old posters which had been found in the cinema and were given to the supermarket along with some other bits of memorabilia which were put on public display. Lot of nostalgia there, I used to go to this cinema when I was a youngster.

[@janblake9468]

I visited there many years ago. It took a full day to see it all.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yes, there is so much to see there.

[@frederickmiller3956]

Hi Steve. Fred here. I’m on a different account, catching up on videos I missed. It’s like visiting with an old friend.

[@thatplace1]

fascinating. Did not know about this in Griffith park. Awesome history. thanks

[@Corgis175]

Been to the Autry a # of times. Love the old west history, native history and Western movie history.

[@steves7896]

I'm right there with you Steve, not much interested in modern 'art'. But the singing cowboys, the old west, Autry, Rogers, Sons of the Pioneers, Frederick Remington, Rex Bell, miners, vaqueros, etc, that's the stuff I find to be so interesting and endearing. Decades ago I was fortunate enough to see Roy Rogers museum when it was in Victorville. I would love to see this one too. Lots of great stuff like this in Texas also. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!

[@dezertraider]

MERRY CHRISTMAS STEVE..STAY AWESOME..

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks, you too!

[@ArizonaGhostriders]

Awesome. Gotta get there one day.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

You would love it. You could probably really do a deep dive on some of the stuff there.

[@ArizonaGhostriders]

@@SidetrackAdventures Now I'm excited. Great video, btw!

[@briancisco1176]

Amazing! First time I'd heard of it.

[@jerroldkazynski5480]

I never made it to the museum when I lived nearby. There were always so many other places to go and things to do. I did get to meet Monty Montana when Agua Dulce had an event near his ranch adjacent to Vasquez Rocks. I'll have to visit. So much history in SoCal.

[@pamelakern2849]

What a wonderful museum 🤩🤩

[@skydiverclassc2031]

Wow, if you're in the SoCal area, you've got a lot of western museums to visit. Get to searchin'!

[@eileenirwin2778]

Thanks, Steve, for another informative and interesting video. Stay safe in your travels and see you next week!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks, you too!

[@brentnearhood8874]

Thanks!🐎

[@lilys4960]

Cool!

[@mawi1172]

My Mother, bless her heart, was born in 1924 and was a huge Gene Autry fan for many years. We're all just passing thru! ✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏🇺🇸✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏🇺🇸✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏🇺🇸✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏🇺🇸💋

[@franksnyder1038]

Happy Trails To You.

[@CactusAtlas]

Actually hadn't heard of this place. Usually when we're in that area, we are visiting Disneyland. 😂 If ever we end up having free time while there we might have to hit this museum up. 👍

[@jeff7.629]

Check out Word on Westerns youtube channel. He does a lot of filming there.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

You should if you get the chance. It's not that far from Universal Studios if you ever head there.

[@charleshaggard4341]

We should be coming out that way in April, so I will put this on the bucket list. Thanks, I never heard of it.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

It's definitely worth checking out. So much stuff there.

[@joewenzel5142]

Those buffalo head chairs - accidents waiting to happen.

[@desertrat3950]

That was the most ornate stage coach I have ever seen. I guess even back then, people felt a need to pimp their rides.

[@steves7896]

Yeah I took note of that too, I wonder how well a stage that ornate would fare, on dusty, rocky dirt roads if it were to see regular service. Pretty neat set of wheels regardless.

[@MichaelTitera]

Schweet new hat, Steve Diego!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks!

[@trailcameralakeloon]

When I grow up I want to wear a petticoat.

[@vibingwithvinyl]

Woo! Uploaded 5 seconds ago :D

[@curtrutherford4005]

That longhorn was part of a donation by my uncle, Ed Rutherford. Donated 3 when it opened, been a member since 1988. Don’t know what happened to the other 2. The Autry is a great museum even though it has dropped a lot of it’s California rodeo history.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I didn't see much rodeo stuff there.

[@franksnyder1038]

Go Angels.

[@jerrysullivan8424]

When I was a young Marine station at El Toro back in 1977- 78 They sold us Marines seating tickets just under the owner's private club box at Anaheim Angels stadium. The announcer before the game would give a shout-out to all of those attending the game who were in the military. sitting just above us in the clubhouse were Gene Autry and President Nixon and their wives who attended the home games. The announcer would say, "let's hear it for the Marines sitting below our team's owner and President Nixon." or something like that. LOL! So we would look up and wave at Nixon and Autry as they wave back. That is my Gene Autry story. LOL! while I did not meet him personally or Nixon, I got in a wave. Noland Ryan was the big draw at that time, He was my favorite Angels player, and I was a Royals fan, So I attended the games that were played against them. That was when the Royals were Hot. I would buy one of those Royals banners and wave it as the game was played. saying, " GO ROYALS." or something like that. LOL! I have also visited The Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum which few people know about. which is in Gene Autry OK. Thank you for your video, have a great Christmas.

[@joewenzel5142]

Fashion - the eyes start to glaze over.

[@WishfulWalkingVideos]

Oh I was here before haha

[@joewenzel5142]

C'mon now Annie Oakley was only 5 feet away from her targets in that film. It would be hard to miss at that range.

[@marciodossantosmanganelli2542]

Formidável! 😊👍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@wadeenyart9676]

if you ever get a chance you should go to the gene autry museum in gene autry oklahoma, its just south of route 66 in oklahoma

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I definitely will if I'm ever in that area. I used to stop by the Roy Rogers Museum in Victorville all the time as a kid.

[@jerrysullivan8424]

True, It is a great place to visit. They will not be open until March, they close for the winter.

[@joewenzel5142]

Why would you want to use a pistol with that long a barrel - it would take some time to clear the holster and you could get it caught.

[@steves7896]

It either makes a lousy hand gun or a lousy rifle, lol! Probably more for show than anything practical.

[@joewenzel5142]

Elizabeth Custer very buxom.

[@FrantzVissarionovitch]

Is there any bank or saloon from the wild west still standing in America?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

There are a few out there. The Iron Door Saloon near Yosemite opened in 1852 and there's a saloon in Prescott, AZ that opened in the 1870s.

[@joewenzel5142]

It only counts if you say first. First!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I think those are the rules.

[@joewenzel5142]

@@SidetrackAdventures I know right.

[@joewenzel5142]

Jesus got some long arms.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

That statue scared my kid, he left the room!

[@joewenzel5142]

@@SidetrackAdventures Then your kid better not watch Nightmare on Elm Street the first movie.

[@joewenzel5142]

Museum started off meh but got better and better the more rooms you visited.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

The lower floor was much better than the floor you enter on in my opinion too.

[@sambowz9077]

5:52 No Tickee No washee!