During your visit to the Elko Folklife Center, explore semi-permanent and special exhibitions in the Wiegand Gallery. The Center’s Pioneer Saloon will take you back in time to the romance and mystique of the American West. Original gifts and keepsakes are available in the Western Folklife Center’s Gift Shop.
Wiegand Gallery
The Wiegand Gallery in the Western Folklife Center boasts interactive exhibitions and multimedia presentations, including semi-permanent and special exhibitions drawn from the Western Folklife Center’s permanent collections as well as traveling exhibitions. The Western Folklife Center’s exhibitions are based on its original research and fieldwork and feature the works of traditional artists and art forms. The works of hundreds of talented artists which showcase the creativity, stories and voices from throughout the western United States and from horse cultures worldwide have been represented in the Center’s exhibitions over the years.
Something That A Cowboy Knows
Highlighted in the Wiegand Gallery is Something That a Cowboy Knows, a photographic essay by Denver-area artist and photographer, L.L. Griffin. Something That a Cowboy Knows is part of the Western Folklife Center’s permanent collection, providing insight into the character and spirit of cowboy poets, singers and storytellers of the American West.
Why the Cowboy Sings
Don’t miss the Western Folklife Center’s 16-minute high definition adaption of Why the Cowboy Sings, shown throughout the day in the Center’s Black Box Theater. The documentary explores the inspiration behind the music and poetry that accompany ranch life. During the documentary, you will journey to four remote ranches in the middle of winter, the season when cowboys have time to focus on music, and meet five cowboys who compose and sing music.
Pioneer Saloon
The Center’s Pioneer Saloon, once the social center of Elko, will take you back in time to the romance and mystique of the American West. Explore the Pioneer Saloon, featuring a breathtaking 40-foot Brunswick back bar from 1890, constructed of mahogany and cherry wood and adorned with Nacre.
Shopping in the Gift Shop
Be sure to browse the Western Folklife Center’s Gift Shop. Gifts and keepsakes inspired by the American West including a wide selection of books, CDs and DVDs, and crafts by regional artists and artisans are all available to purchase.
- The Western Folklife Center is ADA compliant.
- Visit the official Western Folklife Center website to find out about events taking place during your visit to the Center.