This Veterans Day weekend, the spirit of the Duke rides into Fort Worth. John Wayne: An American Experience \u2014 the museum dedicated to Hollywood\u2019s most iconic cowboy \u2014 is opening its doors for free to veterans and active-duty military from Saturday, Nov. 8, through Tuesday, Nov. 11. It\u2019s a fitting tribute: Wayne didn\u2019t just play cowboys \u2014 he famously donned the uniform on screen in films like \u201cSands of Iwo Jima\u201d and \u201cThe Green Berets,\u201d earning him a deep respect for the men and women who serve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The weekend kicks off with a little motion at the John Wayne Grit Series Fort Worth Stockyards 5K on Nov. 8. Runners take off at 8 a.m. from the museum itself, with Kylie Frey performing the National Anthem and members of the Wayne family cheering them across the finish line. Proceeds benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, which carries on the Duke\u2019s legacy of courage and grit against cancer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside the museum, visitors trace the arc of Wayne\u2019s life \u2014 from his childhood and early career to his final roles. The exhibits include never-before-seen family photos and letters curated by the Wayne family, offering a glimpse at the man behind the legend. Military buffs will appreciate displays of costumes and memorabilia from Wayne\u2019s war films, which underscore his lifelong respect for the armed forces.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two rotating exhibits add extra allure this fall. \u201cThe John Wayne Gun Collection \u2014 Guns that Won the West,\u201d on view through Dec. 31, spans four decades of cinematic firepower, from the Remington 1861 New Model Army in\u00a0\u201cThe Big Trail\u201d\u00a0to the Colt 1890 Gatling Gun in\u00a0\u201cThe War Wagon\u201d. Also through Dec. 31, the John Wayne Family Portfolio Collection from Andy Warhol\u2019s\u00a0\u201cCowboys & Indians\u201d\u00a0series spotlights 10 Warhol artworks depicting Wayne alongside iconic Western imagery \u2014 a colorful intersection of Hollywood, history, and pop art.\u00a0<\/p>\n