Joshua's Journey -- Minnesota Children's Museum

A picture of a girl riding the bucking bronco.

A picture of kids preparing food at the chuckwagon.

Join a Joshua’s Journey Storyteller for Tales from the Trail, Saturdays, June through August, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Yeeeehaaaw! Mosey on over to Minnesota Children’s Museum where your little dogies can experience life on the open range. Visitors join Joshua Loper’s first trail ride on the Chisholm Trail and experience the hardships, struggles and joys of a true American Cowboy. Kids can saddle up a horse, don authentic western wear and take a turn on the bucking bronco in Joshua’s Journey: A Black Cowboy Rides the Chisholm Trail, open May 28 through September 18, 2005.

A picture of a boy trying on western wear.

A picture of a boy trying on western wear.

Exhibit Overview
Joshua’s Journey brings to life the Scholastic Dear America/My Name is America® book, The Journal of Joshua Loper, A Black Cowboy. Visitors will follow Joshua’s adventures as he leaves home at age sixteen to drive a herd of cattle on the Chisholm Trail. Joshua’s Journey shows the ethnic diversity that has rarely been seen in western movies but was part of the historic cattle drives of the late 1860s through 1880s.

Exhibit Features
Before beginning the trail ride tour, visitors learn about the young cowboy Joshua, and read his personal journal entries. Showcases display genuine gear and clothing that enabled the American cowboy to work and survive on the trail, such as a Mother Hubbard saddle, bridle, rope, Navaho saddle blanket and canteen. A Stetson hat, branding irons, large rowel spurs, boots and shotgun chaps help bring Joshua’s story to life.

A picture of a boy and girl creating their own brands.

A picture of a boy and girl creating their own brands.

Ranch Life
Life on the ranch required hard work and unique skills. This stop in the journey provides visitors with a taste of ranch life—past and present. Visitors can learn about gear and lingo used on the trail in the large, colorful flipbooks. At the Try–On Station, children can sport Western hats, boots, chaps, bandanas and work shirts. The Branding Area reveals the importance of branding cattle and the history behind the practice. Kids can recreate a famous brand or produce their own using magnetic letters, numbers and shapes. In the Rope A Calf area, guests can rope a runaway “dogie” from atop a stationary horse.

A picture of a boy about to rope a pretend calf.

A picture of a boy about to rope a pretend calf.

On the Trail
Life on the trail was challenging. Through Joshua’s journal visitors gain an understanding of the long, grueling days Joshua experienced as a trail hand and the social aspects of trail life. At the authentic Chuck Wagon, kids can role–play cooks as they grind coffee, organize ingredients and prepare dinner at the chuck box. Children can gather around the “campfire” where they can hear the herd and special cowboy songs. The bravest cowpokes can try their hand at riding a life–sized Bucking Bronco.

Legacy
Cowboys are not just figures from the past. Many people still practice and live the cowboy way of life. Inside the Legacy “barn” guests can view a video and read a variety of books providing insight into historical and modern cowboys and cowgirls.

Exhibit Background
Joshua’s Journey was created by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in partnership with Scholastic®, the Youth Museum Exhibit Collaborative, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and the Cattle Raisers Museum.

©Scholastic Inc. SCHOLASTIC, DEAR AMERICA, MY NAME IS AMERICA and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.

Presented by
A picture of the Wells Fargo logo.

Promotional support provided by

A picture of grandparents and their grandchildren learning about present and past cowboys.

Joshua’s Journey Book List:
Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett
Desert Song by Tony Johnston
Two Cool Coyotes by Jillian Lund
She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain by Philemon Sturges

Earth World Gallery
Habitot® Gallery
Our World Gallery
Rooftop ArtPark Gallery
World Works Gallery

What's Here What's New Information Calendar Membership Educators Parents Birthdays Volunteering Newsroom Donate Rent an Exhibit Camp-Ins Working Here Rentals Contact Us Home

Copyright © 2006 Minnesota Children's Museum. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use: The information on this web site is the property of Minnesota Children's Museum. Unauthorized linking or reproduction is prohibited. To request permission to link to this web site or to obtain consent to use any of the materials or images on this site, please contact mcm@mcm.org.