Museum History

In 1979, with a rich heritage behind them and a vision of continued progress ahead, members of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) formed the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Foundation.

Intent on preserving and protecting the heritage of the livestock industry of the Southwest, the Foundation’s goals included educating students and the general public as to the cattleman’s independent nature, pride in the free enterprise system, devotion to private land ownership and commitment to environmental stewardship.

The Museum originally opened in 1981 in the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers building located west of downtown Fort Worth with the purpose of developing greater public awareness of and appreciation for our ranching heritage.

The Museum moved to the second floor of the rebuilt Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in 2009 where today millions of visitors have experienced the history, heritage and culture of the ranching way of life.

In 2017, the Cattle Raisers Museum completed a renovation to enhance its focus on the history of the Texas and Southwestern cattle raiser and reinforce the message that ranchers are committed to doing the right thing by their neighbors, by their land, and by cattle and wildlife. New technologically advanced exhibits, interactive chronological timelines, natural resource stewardship videos and never-before-seen artifacts improve the Museum’s ability to “keep the legacy alive” with the next generation.