Sure, the latest in dolls might seem like a silly tidbit ofnews, but at A.C., we appreciate any and all things that paytribute to the American West. Besides, we know our favorite little cowgirls will be delighted by the newest edition to the American Girl collection.
Meet Nicki-American Girl's 2007 "Girl of the Year" doll. This 10-year-old girl lives on a ranch in Colorado. She has a great affection for all animals and loves riding her horse, Jackson. Her story embodies the compassionate spirit of Colorado's ranchers. In her first book, Nicki is asked to train a puppy as a service dog, which she'll donate to a person in need.
Nicki comes to life with an 18-inch doll, several Western outfits, and accessories. She is the latest of several Western-themed dolls in the American Girl family. Better giddy-up and go! Nicki is a limited edition, available for sale only in 2007. 800-845-0005; www.americangirl.com
Women put the "W" in the West. From gaining the right to vote in Wyoming Territory in 1869 to homesteading on the plains and tearing it up in rodeo arenas across the country, cowgirls have been blazing trails and making history.
The outfits and the times may have changed, but today's cowgirls are just as spunky as the women who went before them. And the modern cowgirl has a lot to learn from legends like Annie Oakley, Patsy Cline, or Mary Ellen "Dude" Barton.
This March, celebrate your cowgirl pride during Women's History Month. Here are a few places, events, and exhibits to get you in the spirit!
NATIONAL COWGIRL MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME
817-336-4475 www.cowgirl.net
Everyday is a cowgirl celebration at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Forth Worth, Texas. Get a video of your simulated bucking bronc ride or look through rodeo fashions on display.
Either way, you'll be saying, “Yee-haw!” before you leave.
HIDDEN JEWELS: THE CENTENNIAL QUILT EXHIBIT
580-765-6108 www.pioneerwomanmuseum.com
For the quilters out there, stop by the Pioneer Woman Museum this month in Ponca City, Okla., to see never-before-exhibited quilts from across the state. Some were made in the state, and others were brought there by pioneers. Each quilt is a masterpiece and little piece of history.
A WOMAN'S PLACE…IS ON THE RANGE
303-866-3682 www.coloradohistory.org
Cowgirls can rope, ranch, and ride as well as any cowboy, and this exhibit at the Colorado History Museum in Denver, Colo., gives them their due. Stop by this month and you won't soon forget how women have made history.
REALITY AND ROMANCE: WOMEN OF THE BLACK HILLS
605-578-1714 www.adamsmuseumandhouse.org
Travel back in time and learn what women's lives were really like when you visit this exhibit at the Adams Museum and House in Deadwood, S.D. During your visit this month, make sure to stop at the “Anonymous Women” board to take in the photos and letters from the past.
