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The Western Folklife Museum in Elko, Nevada showcases an extensive collection of cowboy exhibits featuring gear, clothing, and western memorabilia from the mid to late 1800s. ​ 

 

During the project's discovery phase, a thorough examination of their ten-year decline in attendance revealed a waning awareness of the cowboy's significance in the settling of the west, particularly among young adults and children.

This insight inspired the S.P.U.R. education materials initiative. ​ 

 

S.P.U.R. (Study | Practice | Understand | Remember)

is a project based learning program that equips K-12 teachers with comprehensive cowboy themed lesson plans that integrate historic reference and cultural impact insights.

 

In addition to addressing the immediate need of awareness building, SPUR helps establish the WFM as a regional and national learning center for cowboy related topics.