Cowgirl Hall of Fame Inducts Six in 50th Class
The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame marks its 50th anniversary with six new honorees and an expanded museum.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Rodeo
The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame inducted six new honorees into its 50th induction class in 2026. The museum also unveiled an expanded facility with additional exhibits and artifacts.
Why it matters
The induction honors women who shaped the American West and marks five decades since the museum began in Hereford, Texas, in 1975. The expansion gives visitors more of the collection to explore.
The Hall of Fame now represents more than 270 women, and the 2026 class adds six inductees to that total. Details on the selection process for this class were not provided.
The players
National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
A Fort Worth, Texas institution founded in 1975 that honors women who shaped the American West through its exhibits and induction program.
Kenda Lenseigne
A six-time world champion in mounted shooting who is among the 2026 inductees.
Cherie DeVaux
A Thoroughbred horse trainer and the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, inducted in 2026.
The details
Inductees include Cherie DeVaux, the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner; Kenda Lenseigne, a six-time world champion in mounted shooting; Lela Rose, a Texas-born fashion designer; Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War surgeon and the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor; and Lisa Sorrell, an Oklahoma bootmaker. The class brings previously stored artifacts out of storage, and a working carousel with 18 horses now sits beside the Icons Gallery.
Timeline
1975: The museum begins in Hereford, Texas.
2026: The 50th induction class is announced with six new honorees.
Big Picture
The museum's 1975 founding in Hereford, Texas, anchors this 2026 anniversary, which extends its mission of honoring women of the American West into a fiftieth year. Each induction class adds to a Hall of Fame now representing more than 270 women.
Visitors to the Fort Worth museum can see the expanded exhibits and the artifacts brought out of storage for this anniversary. The working carousel beside the Icons Gallery is available to ride as part of the museum experience.
The takeaway
Recognition of women in Western sport and heritage has a long record, and this anniversary class adds to it. Readers interested in the history can visit the museum or follow its ongoing induction announcements.
Further reading
Explore more rodeo coverage to see how women's contributions to Western sport continue to be recognized.
