Before there was a Cowgirl Hall of Fame, there were 38 women who refused to be sidelined. The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame proudly will presents "The 38," a groundbreaking exhibition celebrating the fearless women who forever changed the landscape of professional rodeo and, in doing so, made the creation of The Cowgirl inevitable.

As the inaugural exhibition in the Museum’s new Collections Gallery, "The 38" represents the museum’s most comprehensive exploration to date of the founding of the Girls Rodeo Association and its enduring legacy.

In 1948, 38 cowgirls gathered at the St. Angelus Hotel in San Angelo, Texas, determined to secure their rightful place in professional rodeo. At a time when opportunities for women were disappearing, they chose solidarity over acquiescence, establishing the Girls Rodeo Association; the oldest and first professional women's sports organization in the United States, now known as the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.

These pioneers didn't simply preserve women's place in rodeo. They transformed the sport, established economic opportunities, challenged cultural expectations and created a legacy that continues to inspire generations.