Oakdale Cowboy Museum

The Oakdale Cowboy Museum serves as a treasured institution, committed to maintaining and celebrating the rich western heritage of California's Central Valley. Positioned at the heart of Oakdale, often referred to as 'The Cowboy Capital of the World,' we honor the meaningful contributions that local ranching and rodeo communities have made to the region's history. Our museum showcases an impressive collection of western artifacts, including rodeo memorabilia and unique exhibitions that tell the story of the cowboy way of life.

Visitors can explore two distinct galleries within the museum. The Rodeo Gallery presents an array of items from local rodeo champions, featuring trophy saddles, buckles, and a variety of cowboy gear. Guests are welcome to engage with this 'hands-on' experience, where touching leather saddles, feeling bronc reins, and listening to rodeo bells is encouraged, providing an immersive journey into cowboy history.

Meanwhile, the Ranching Gallery offers a nostalgic glimpse into the past, housed within the Old Southern Pacific Railroad Station's waiting room. Original benches invite guests to sit and reflect, while displays of branding irons and barbed wire, along with dress-up opportunities for children, bring historic ranching tales to life.

Since 1995, our museum has operated as a nonprofit organization. We are dedicated to preserving the cultural narratives of the American West, offering educational opportunities, and facilitating a deeper understanding of the intertwined developments of agriculture and cowboy life.