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Thursday 11am - 3pm Friday 11am - 3pm Saturday 11am - 3pm

Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum

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Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum

We are keeping Rodeo history alive at the Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum!

06/26/2026

The cowboy way is shaped by hard work, resilience, and a lifestyle centered around life outdoors, caring for livestock, and working the land. Long before rodeo arenas and grandstands, ranch life called for skill, patience, and responsibility from those who lived it each day.

Life on the ranch often begins before sunrise and follows the seasons, weather, and needs of the herd. Riding horseback across open country, repairing fences, moving cattle, and protecting livestock become part of daily life across Arizona and the American West. Beyond the work itself, the cowboy way reflects values of independence, dedication, and connection to the land and community. These responsibilities and traditions help build a culture rooted in horsemanship, stewardship, and strong community ties.

Today, the cowboy way remains an important part of western heritage and Arizona history. At the Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum, we enjoy preserving these stories and helping visitors better understand the people, traditions, and way of life that continue to shape Scottsdale and the West. 🌵

06/23/2026

📰 BREAKING NEWS: Scottsdale is turning 75!
This year marks 75 years since Scottsdale officially became a city, and the community is invited to celebrate this historic milestone on June 25 at Scottsdale Stadium.
The free 75th Anniversary Birthday Bash will feature a complimentary breakfast, a new documentary highlighting Scottsdale's history, live entertainment, guest speakers, historical exhibits, and activities for all ages. Doors open at 9 a.m. and the celebration begins at 9:30 a.m. Although this is a free event, registration is suggested.
From its ranching roots and western heritage to the thriving community we know today, Scottsdale's story is one worth celebrating.
What's your favorite Scottsdale memory? Share it below and tag someone who has called Scottsdale home. 🌵
🔗https://community.scottsdaleaz.gov/260129225

06/20/2026

Founded in 1888 as a small farming settlement, Scottsdale grew SLOWLY for decades. Streets were unpaved, horses outnumbered cars, and daily life revolved around family, church, and neighbors helping neighbors.

After WWII, tourism began to trickle in more and more, and Scottsdale businesses and residents recognized the need for better infrastructure, as well as community gatherings, in their 'rough-and-ready' desert town.

⭐ Enter the RODEO, one event that Scottsdale began organizing as a way to bring people together.⭐

That spirit of connection and welcome is what we aim to honor and preserve here at the museum.

06/19/2026

Western wear tells the story of life in the American West. What many people recognize today as cowboy clothing began as practical workwear shaped by ranch life, weather, and the demands of riding and caring for livestock.
Wide-brimmed hats helped shield riders from the Arizona sun, dust, and rain. Leather chaps protected legs from brush, cactus, and rough terrain while working horseback. Boots with raised heels helped keep a rider’s foot secure in the stirrup, and durable denim became increasingly popular after the introduction of riveted work pants in the late 1800s.
Over time, western wear evolved from working ranch clothing into a lasting symbol of western heritage and rodeo culture. Today, these styles remain closely tied to the traditions, craftsmanship, and history that continue to shape the American West.
Sources for historical information: Buffalo Bill Center of the West, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Smithsonian Institution. 🌵Credit to

06/14/2026

Some names become well known in rodeo because of what they accomplish both in and out of the arena.
Arizona native Clay O'Brien Cooper is one of those names.
Born in Ray, Arizona, Clay developed a passion for rodeo at a young age and went on to become one of the most accomplished team ropers in the sport's history. With Jake Barnes as his partner, he earned a record seven world championships in team roping and built a career that inspired generations of ropers across the world!
Many people also recognize Clay from the western film The Cowboys, where he appeared alongside John Wayne as a young actor. The role introduced him to audiences far beyond the rodeo arena and remains a memorable part of his story.
While his time in film was brief, Clay's greatest impact came through rodeo, where decades of success helped establish him as one of Arizona's most recognizable western athletes.
Stories like Clay's help tell the story of Arizona rodeo. They remind us of the people, places, and accomplishments that continue to shape the sport and western culture throughout our state.

Whose rodeo story do you think deserves to be remembered and shared for future generations? Let us know in the comments. 🌵

06/13/2026

Education has been an important part of Scottsdale's story since the very beginning.

In 1896, Chaplain Winfield Scott recognized the growing community's need for a school. At the time, a small group of children were being taught in a local ranch home. As more families settled in the area, community members came together to establish a school district and build Scottsdale's first schoolhouse near what is now Brown Avenue and Main Street.

More than a place for learning, the schoolhouse became a gathering place for the community. Church services, elections, community meetings, and local events were all held within its walls.

As Scottsdale continued to grow, the building served many purposes over the years, including Town Hall, county offices, and the city library. By the late 1960s, plans were made to remove the historic structure, but community members worked together to preserve an important piece of Scottsdale's past.

Their efforts helped save the Old Brick Schoolhouse, allowing future generations to learn about the people, places, and events that helped shape Scottsdale into the city we know today. Today, that building is known as the Scottsdale Historical Museum.

06/01/2026

Arizona’s rodeo history is built on more than artifacts and photographs — it’s built on the stories, traditions, and people who shaped communities across the West.

As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by the City of Scottsdale, the Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum works to preserve and share that history for generations to come. Donations support educational displays, historical preservation, and opportunities for families and visitors to connect with Scottsdale’s western heritage.

Every contribution helps keep Arizona’s rodeo story alive and accessible. 🌵

Learn more about supporting local history through our website.

05/31/2026

Before the days of social media and televised rodeo events, the sport of rodeo originated from everyday ranch work across the American Southwest.

Cowboys and vaqueros relied on skills like roping and riding to care for livestock and work the land — and over time, those working skills turned into organized competitions held just for fun. Those competitions brought communities together then, and they still do today.

Arizona holds a particularly important place in rodeo history, even before it was a recognized state. In 1888, Prescott hosted what is known to this day as the World’s Oldest Rodeo. Events like that one — and the many that followed — were pivotal in building rodeo into the beloved American sport and multi-billion dollar industry it is today.

Here at the Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum, we love sharing that history and helping future generations better understand Arizona’s rodeo roots. 🌵

📸 Arizona Memory Project – Prescott Frontier Days

05/21/2026

In rodeo and western culture, a belt buckle has long represented more than style. Many buckles are earned through years of hard work, competition, ranching traditions, and dedication to the western way of life.

Across Arizona rodeos, buckles became symbols of achievement and pride for riders, ropers, and hardworking cowboys and cowgirls who spent countless hours perfecting their craft. Many families still pass these pieces down through generations, carrying stories and memories with them along the way.

At Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum, preserving these pieces of rodeo history helps connect today’s visitors to the traditions that helped shape Scottsdale and the American West. 🌵

Current museum hours:
• Wednesday through Friday | 10 AM – 2 PM
• Saturday | 9 AM – 12 PM
The museum closes for the summer following May 30th, though private tours are available by request through our website.

05/18/2026

Today is International Museum Day! At Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum, we’re grateful for every opportunity we get to share the stories, traditions, and history behind Arizona’s rodeo heritage. 🌵

We may be closed today, but if you’re looking for a simple way to support the museum without having to even leave your house, read this:

Every rodeo license plate purchase (and renewal) of the Arizona Rodeo License Plate and renewal helps support the OTSRM! $17 of each purchase goes directly toward preserving rodeo history and western heritage, plus supports those who make rodeo the greatest sport on dirt!

By supporting the Arizona Rodeo plate, you’re helping keep the history of rodeo alive for future generations to come.

Learn more about the Arizona Rodeo license plate & get yours today ➡️ azdot.gov

Address

3806 N. Brown Avenue
Scottsdale, AZ
85251

Opening Hours

Thursday	11am - 3pm
Friday	11am - 3pm
Saturday	11am - 3pm

Website

http://scottsdalerodeomuseum.com/

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