Press Release
April 25, 2025
Contact: Ron Brown
Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 918-762-2513
[email protected]
www.PawneeBillRanch.org
“Showmanship and the Wild West” Exhibit Opens May 10 at Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum
PAWNEE, Okla. — A new exhibit called “Showmanship and the Wild West” opens at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum on Saturday, May 10. The exhibit was created by the University of Oklahoma Libraries Western History Collections and given to the museum.
Through a collection of historic posters, photographs and Wild West show artifacts, the exhibit will feature the rise and fall of “America’s National Entertainment,” reflecting the popularity of Wild West Shows from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Oklahomans played a significant role in this nostalgic era as the American frontier faded, with Native Americans forced onto reservations and cattle drives ending.
William F. Cody, known as Buffalo Bill, capitalized on the mythologized image of the West, transitioning from dime novels to his iconic Wild West Show. His performances featured historical re-enactments like Custer’s Last Stand and showcased cowboys, cowgirls and Indigenous performers, including Sitting Bull. As competition grew, Buffalo Bill expanded his show to include diverse acts, blurring the lines with conventional circuses.
In 1888, Gordon W. Lillie, known as Pawnee Bill, began his own show in Oklahoma. Lillie, who had moved to the region in the 1870s, found success touring the United States and Europe, introducing acts like “The Great Train Robbery” and “The Great Far East.” In 1908, financial troubles led to a merger with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, becoming what was popularly known as the “Two Bills Show” until dwindling attendance ended the collaboration.
Despite the challenges, Pawnee Bill prospered, establishing a 2,000-acre ranch near Pawnee, where he produced films featuring himself and his wife, who was a champion sharpshooter. Meanwhile, the Miller brothers of Oklahoma, known for their extensive ranch and entertainment contributions, also made a notable impact on the Wild West entertainment scene.
The exhibit will be displayed in the Wild West gallery of the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum through Sunday, August 31.
For more information, please call the ranch at 918-762-2513. The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum is located at 1141 Pawnee Bill Rd. in Pawnee. Visit PawneeBillRanch.org for hours of operation and admission prices.
The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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Editor’s Note: Photos of the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum are available upon request.
