Hollywood in Cowtown

Costumes and props from Yellowstone prequel 1883 go on display in North Texas

"1883: The Journey West" wraps up at the National Cowgirl Museum on April 17.

Photo courtesy of National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

UPDATE 3-23-2022: Due to "unprecedented visitorship," the museum says, the exhibition will continue through April 17.

---

Fort Worth's National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame is taking visitors inside the world of 1883, the Paramount+ series that's become the buzziest show on earth. The new exhibition "1883: The Journey West" opens at the museum on Friday, February 11 and runs through March 20.

Organized by the museum in partnership with 101 Studios, Visit Fort Worth, and the Fort Worth Film Commission, the special exhibition includes costumes, props, and photography from the Yellowstone prequel, which was filmed in and around D allas-Fort Worth from July to October of 2021.

Highlights include an authentic wagon; a camp set-up; and apparel worn by stars Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Sam Elliott, and LaMonica Garrett. There's also a display of behind-the-scenes photography.

Also of note is a collection of beaded items from Cowgirl Hall of Fame honoree Cathy A. Smith, an artist who works to preserve the history of the 19th century cowboy and cowgirl and the Plains Indians. The museum notes that Smith’s work was featured as part of the costuming for the Lakota, Crow, and Comanche tribes in 1883.

“A 'cowgirl' represents fortitude, determination, tenacity and grit," says David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios, in a release. "It is that indomitable spirit that we are so thrilled to celebrate through the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame’s upcoming exhibit '1883: The Journey West.'"

With apologies to Hollywood, there really is no better place for an 1883 exhibition than the Cowgirl Museum.The show is written and directed by Fort Worth native and Weatherford resident Taylor Sheridan, who also created Yellowstone (along with Sicaro, Hell or Highwater, Wind River, and more). His wife, actress Nicole Sheridan, is a Cowgirl Museum board member; and the Hall of Fame's 2021 Patsy Montana Award recipient, Christina Voros, is the cinematographer on the hit series.

“We are honored to host the '1883: The Journey West' exhibition," says Dr. Diana Vela, the museum's associate executive director. "The ties to Fort Worth history, pioneers, and trailblazers make it a natural fit. The captivating series complements some of the real-life stories of very own honorees."

Yellowstone and 1883 follow the lives of the Duttons, first with the modern-day Western drama of the John Dutton family, then with the late 19th-century story of James and Margaret Dutton’s move west across the U.S.

When it filmed in Fort Worth last year, 1883 employed hundreds of local production crew and extras, used local businesses, and heavily featured locations like the Fort Worth Stockyards, the release notes. The show — whose official trailer featured a killer line about the city, delivered by star Billy Bob Thornton — was built up as one of the buzziest newcomers of the year.

1883 debuted in December and reportedly set a premiere record of 4.9 million households. The Yellowstone season finale drew an estimated 65 million households.

Powered by the success of the shows, Fort Worth recently shot onto a prestigious list of top filmmaking cities for first time; the city landed at No. 25 on Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker, an annual list compiled by Los Angeles-based publication MovieMaker.

A couple of visits to the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo by two of the shows' biggest stars February 1 and 2 drew swarms of fans, near and far.

“We are proud to partner with the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame and 101 Studios on this exhibition,” says Bob Jameson, president and CEO of Visit Fort Worth (which includes the Fort Worth Film Commission). “Film and television production not only creates jobs locally, it provides an opportunity to drive tourism to our city through location tours and exhibitions like this one.”

---

"1883: The Journey West," February 11-March 20, National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, Fort Worth. Entrance is included with museum admission; tickets and more information at cowgirl.net.

Apparel worn by Sam Elliott will be on display.

Photo courtesy of Paramount+

Apparel worn by Sam Elliott will be on display.

tv museums

park news

Dallas-area parks top the list for best Texas parks in 2025

Play Frisco - Parks & Recreation/Facebook

Frisco made its debut in the 2025 Parkscore Index report.

More bragging rights for Plano as a desirable place to live: The city has the No. 1 best park system in Texas this year, a new report says. Dallas and Frisco aren't far behind.

So says the Trust for Public Land's 2025 ParkScore report, which annually rates park systems in 100 of the largest American cities based on accessibility, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities.

Plano has maintained its place atop the rankings in Texas for several years. The city ranked 17th nationally after ranking 16th for the last two years, and earning No. 15 in 2021 and 2022.

Most Plano residents (81 percent) live within a 10-minute walk of a park in the city, which is more than the national median (76 percent). Within the city limits, 10.4 percent of the area is dedicated to parkland. The city spends $198 per resident on its acclaimed park system, compared to the national median $133 per resident.

Dallas' parks moved up four spots from last year to claim No. 34 nationally and No. 2 statewide. The report says this marks five years of improvement for Dallas, in part thanks to community efforts and organizations.

"Dallas’ recent rise in park access is due largely to initiatives like the Cool School Community Parks program, which opens school playgrounds and other school-based facilities to community use after school hours, and programs like the Dallas Greening Initiative to transform vacant lots into neighborhood greenspaces across the city," the report said.

The upcoming opening of the Judge Charles R. Rose Park on June 7 will also increase accessibility for other Dallas residents.

The Judge Charles R. Rose Community Park will span 40 acres of land.Photo courtesy of Trust For Public Land

Frisco makes its Parkscore Index debut this year, coming in at No. 3 in Texas and No. 37 nationwide. A majority (70 percent) of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park in the city, the report says. About five percent of the entire Frisco area is reserved for parkland, and the city spends $258 per resident to maintain its park system.

"We’re seeing inspiring momentum across the Dallas metroplex, and it reflects what we at Trust for Public Land believe at our core: everyone deserves access to the healing, unifying power of the outdoors," said Molly Morgan, Texas State Director of the Trust for Public Land. "When we invest in parks — especially in neighborhoods that have long gone without — we’re investing in healthier families, stronger communities, and a deeper sense of belonging."

Elsewhere across the Metroplex, Fort Worth rose through the ranks to claim No. 72 nationally this year, previously landing in the No. 91 spot in 2024. The city has put a big focus on park investment, increasing funding by nearly 50 percent over the last five years, and the report says there are over 80 ongoing park construction projects.

Arlington moved up one spot as No. 46 nationwide, and Garland moved up seven spots as No. 67. Irving maintained its rank as No. 99 for the second year in a row.

Here's how other Texas parks ranked nationally in 2025 in comparison to 2024:

No. 54 – Austin, down from No. 44 last year
No. 57 – San Antonio, down from No. 53 last year
No. 66 – Houston, up from No. 68 last year

dallas frisco parks parkscore report plano bests lists