The Wild, Wild West

The Autry Museum has tried to show the American West was a home to the native peoples of the land, who led self-sustaining lives utilizing the resources of the land:

Native American Pottery and Baskets

They also showed how people from other lands arrived to make the West their home.  Some would have arrived by covered wagon, although there weren't any covered wagons on display.  Others arrived by stage coach:

Stage Coach

Bringing their Belongings

Sample Luggage Items

A description of what they would take

The information board states that passengers could take no more than twenty-five to thirty pounds of luggage, each.  I had to smile because, back in 1973, when my parents and I emigrated from Sri Lanka, we, too, were given a weight limit for our checked baggage, by the airlines!  We were allowed two pieces of baggage, each and, together, they couldn't weigh more than something like 40  kilos.  I remember we kept weighing those suitcases and removing items until each person's cases weighed less than the limit, as we didn't want to pay excess baggage fees! 

Later, others arrived by train.  I was rather intrigued by this "side car" that was on display:

Railroad Side Car

I am not sure quite who would ride on that side car!

The museum tried to show that the West was made up of communities, made up of people who were both native and migrants:

Mural of Community Representatives

There was a section where there was a representation of a community where people lived, worked, and, worshiped:

Representation of a Community

Church

The Native American Community

The Chinese Community

The European Community

 

The African American Community

African Amercian Communities

The Spanish Influence

The Mexicano Community

I loved the fact that they included a quinceanera dress from the 2015, to show how our history continues to influence us, today.

Businesses

BUT...
What would the wild, wild West be without guns?  There was a whole room devoted to guns, but, I just contended myself with looking at a few of them:

Guns

Three of Annie Oakley's Guns

And lawmen, outlaws, and jails?

You can stand behind this jail cell door and have your picture taken

And Saloons?

The "Los Angeles" Bar

"Los Angeles" Bar

Bar Items

With music to entertain the customers:

Piano

Edison Multiphone (c. 1915)

The Edison Multiphone was a coin operated phonograph; for a nickel (the one on display had been modified to accept dimes), a patron had a choice of 24 cylinder recordings.  A precursor to a jukebox, I suppose.  It enabled the saloon keepers to save money by not needing to hire and pay for musicians.

And gambling?

Gambling Tables and Games

There are so many facets to this place!   Thank you for continuing to visit the museum with me!