Gem of the West prepares for free cowboy-themed 2024 season-opener

By Erika Mathieu
Sunny South News

The Gem of the West Museum is gearing up for its season-opener event on on Saturday May 4th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In 2023, the museum hosted its first free family season-opener. After a wildly successful event, the museum is getting ready for the second annual opening event to kick off the season. The event, called “Cowpoke Day,” in honour of the region’s cowboy roots.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word “cowboy was first used in 1849, although this was not yet adopted as a universal term. Cattle-drivers in the southwestern United States were often referred to as “cowhands, drovers, or stockmen”, with the terms “Cowhand” and “Cowpoke” appearing in 1852, and 1881, respectively, to describe workers who herded cattle with long poles to load them onto railcars. 

The Gem of the West Museum will be hosting a number of family-friendly activities and demonstrations. Demonstrations will show how artisans from yesteryear crafted materials. There will also be a saw-milling demonstration, children’s craft station and drawing area, and a game zone. 

A special appearance by Boots the Goat will take place in the morning, but the entertainment will continue into the afternoon with a roaming magician and juggler. 

Manager of the Gem of the West Museum, Craig Day said the museum will also be set up with a Western-themed photo backdrop complete with props to capture your own memory of the wild west.

In 2023, the Gem of the West hosted a free circus-themed season-opener.

This year, the season-opener theme “Cowpoke Day” is receiving funding from Lethbridge County, The Coaldale Chamber off Commerce, The Kinsmen Club of Coaldale, and Agriculture Society. 

In preparation for the upcoming event and museum season, Day said the museum will include a new Laundry exhibit the year to showcase the history of commercial laundry services in Coaldale.

Admission to the event is free. 

“We wanted to make it free, and we wanted to do a community event and also promote the museum being open again for the season and really just showcase ourselves,” explained Day. 

The Gem of the West features over 15 unique exhibits which highlight the history and heritage of Coaldale and area. 

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