View paintings in the Museum’s collection alongside major historical, political, and cultural events, beginning with the American Revolution and leading up to the founding of the AMWA.
1776
Congress formally endorsed the Declaration of Independence Read more
1789
George Washington was sworn in as first President of the United States Read more
1790-1830
Start of the Industrial Revolution Read more
1803
President Jefferson purchased Louisiana Territory Read more
1805
The Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the Pacific Ocean Read more
1810-1840
Fur trade reaches its peak Read more
1812
Congress declared war on Great Britain Read more
1819-1820
Expeditionary artists travel to the Rocky Mountains Read more
1821
The Mexican Revolution opens trade between the US and Mexico Read more
1823-1841
James Fennimore Cooper published The Leatherstocking Tales Read more
1830
Congress passed the Indian Removal Act Read more
1832
George Catlin traveled west by steamship Read more
1835-1848
Texas declared Independence from Mexico Read more
1836
First wagon train along the Oregon Trail Read more
1844
Samuel Morse sent the first long-distance telegraph message Read more
1845
The term Manifest Destiny is coined Read more
1848
The California Gold Rush begins Read more
1849-1869
The Pacific Railroad Company builds west Read more
1850s
The US government built wagon roads Read more
c. 1850
William Tylee Ranney travels west Read more
1851
The Laramie Treaty was signed Read more
1852
Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom’s Cabin Read more
1858
Colorado Gold Rush begins Read more
1860
Pony Express Mail Service Read more
1861-1865
American Civil War Read more
1862
The Homestead Act Read more
1864
The Sand Creek Massacre Read more
1865
Abraham Lincoln shot at Ford’s Theater Read more
1865-1876
The Sioux Wars Read more
1866-1890
The Open Range Cattle Industry and the Era of the Cowboy Read more
1866
William Jacob Hays painted The Gathering of the Herds Read more
1867
US purchases Alaska Read more
1870
15th Amendment granted right to vote to African American men Read more
1871
First National Park established Read more
1872
Innovations in photography impact painting Read more
1876-1877
Bell’s First Telephone Read more
1879
The relocation of the Southern Utes Read more
1880
The Navarre Building Constructed in Denver Read more
1881
Remington begins illustrating the West Read more
1889
Oklahoma Land Rush Read more
1890
Massacre at Wounded Knee Read more
1893
Western markets crashed Read more
1898
The Spanish American War Read more
1898
Blumenschein and Phillips travel to Taos, New Mexico Read more
1903
First narrative film Read more
1913
The Armory Show Read more
1913
Henry Ford established the assembly line Read more
1915
The Taos Society of Artists was founded Read more
1915
N.C. Wyeth painted The Lady Wins Read more
1917-1918
The United States participated in World War I Read more
1920
19th Amendment granted right to vote to women Read more
1924
Indian Citizen Act signed into law Read more
1926
US Highway System Read more
1929
Black Tuesday Read more
1933 - 1935
Federal Art Projects Read more
1935
Georgia O’Keeffe painted Red Hills, Grey Sky Read more
1941-1945
World War II Read more
1944
G.I. Bill signed Read more
1952
Emil Bisttram created The Mirror Read more
1967
Ralph Brownell McGrew painted Going on a Visit Read more
1969
Thomas Hart Benton painted Wheat Threshing on the High Plains Read more
1976
Helen Frankenthaler visits the West Read more
1979
Fritz Scholder painted An American Portrait Read more
1981
Harold Joe Waldrum painted Church at Arroyo Hondo Read more
1991
New Appreciation for Western American Art Read more
1997
Kim Wiggins painted Merging of Cultures Read more
2009
Ed Mell painted Flashing Storm Read more
2010
AMWA founded Read more