The Lure and Lore of the West

The Lure and Lore of the West explores the blurred lines between Western myth and history, from the dinosaur bones that inspired monster legends to the red rock formations that were supposed to be hiding places for treasure. Incorporating artworks from the late nineteenth century to the present, it highlights images of popular Western characters like prospectors, pioneers, and cowboys and includes a life-sized Bigfoot skeleton “unearthed” by the artist Clayton Bailey. The exhibition also reflects on the region’s most vital resource: its rugged landscapes. Photographs by Ansel Adams, Harry Reuben Reynolds, and Ralph Clark showcase vistas from our western State and National Parks, which increasingly face pressure from mass tourism and development. As wilderness disappears, the show asks: What stories will remain? What new legends will emerge? Which wild spaces will endure for future generations?

The exhibition touches on themes like travel, exploration, and western expansion; myths and monsters of the West; heroes and legends, especially those surrounding American cowboys, outlaws; natural resources, agriculture, and homesteading; and the majestic Western sublime.

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The Lure and Lore of the West opening reception will be accompanied by Collecting the West: Tall Tales from Museums and Archives Across the Disciplines, a panel discussion on January 28, 2026 from 5:30 – 7:00 PM at the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall. This round table lecture will have the following distinguished participants: 

Danielle Stewart, PhD., NEHMA Head of Academic Initiatives and Curator 
Molly Cannon, PhD., Director and Curator of the USU Museum of Anthropology 
Kristian Valles, Manager and Associate Curator of the Intermountain Herbarium 
Paul Jamison, Collections Manager of the USU Museum of Geology 
Daniel Davis, Librarian, Photograph Curator and Archives Instruction Coordinator of the USU Special Collections and Archives

Watch Panel Discussion

 

USU Graduate Interns: Megan Miller (Folklore Studies), Melissa Anderson Asay (Folklore Studies), Brendan Lee (History) 

USU Undergraduate Interns: Abigail Wettstein (Art History), Tessa Conrad (Chemistry), Kaiya Christiansen (Art History, Economics), and Grace Christensen (Art History)

High School Intern: Eden Kessler (Skyview High School)