Big changes are on the horizon for one of the Cultural District’s most beloved landmarks — and they’re anything but ordinary.

In the heart of Fort Worth’s Cultural District, just across the way from Dickies Arena and the Will Rogers barns, a museum devoted to the women who shaped the West is planning its next big move. This month, the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame announced a $19 million expansion that will add 16,000 square feet of storytelling, style, and spectacle to one of the city’s most iconic cultural landmarks.

Scheduled to open in November 2026, the expansion isn’t just about adding square footage — it’s about widening the lens. “This expansion is not just about more space — it’s about deepening our storytelling,” said Executive Director Pat Riley in a release. “We’re creating unforgettable experiences that reflect the bold spirit of the cowgirl — innovative, fearless, and inspiring.”

The first thing visitors will notice is the museum’s reoriented entrance. Facing toward Dickies Arena, the new façade will feature sweeping bas reliefs of galloping horses — a visual tribute to the power and partnership between the women of the West and the animals that helped carry them through it. The new entry point will boost visibility and connect the museum more naturally with its Cultural District neighbors, which include the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and the Kimbell Art Museum.

At the heart of the expansion is a striking centerpiece: a fully functional carousel, crafted by the San Francisco–based design firm Barrango. Equal parts art installation and interactive ride, it’s meant to be a joyful, kinetic homage to the spirit of the cowgirl — accessible to visitors of all ages, and unlike anything else in town.