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All the United States Oklahoma Oklahoma City Rodeo Animal Cemetery

Rodeo Animal Cemetery

Behind the Cowboy Hall of Fame is a burial ground for good horses and a famed rodeo bull.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Added By
Allison Meier
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About

In the garden behind Oklahoma City's National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum (formerly the Cowboy Hall of Fame) is a small burial ground for a cavalcade of rodeo horses, a bull, and the former museum mascot.

Tombstones and wooden planks are marked with memorials for animals like the quarter horse Baby Doll Combs who rode alongside steers while a cowboy jumped off to wrestle them by the horns, and 5 Minutes to Midnight who was a "cowboy's pal." There's also Hells Angels the bucking bronc, Poker Chip the rope horse, and a horse named Midnight whose epitaph concludes: "If there is a hoss heaven, please, God, rest his soul." Abilene the Texas Longhorn who was long the museum's mascot since his donation to the institution in 1967 used to greet guests from a custom pen, and is also buried on the museum grounds.

Most famous of the late rodeo animals is Tornado the bull. Tornado was believed to be unrideable, bucking some 220 competitors. Finally on December 1, 1967, a man named Freckles Brown rode Tornado for an epic eight second ride at the Oklahoma City National Finals Rodeo. Now the great bull is memorialized outside the museum dedicated to the rich and often wild history of cowboy heritage. 

Related Tags

Pet Cemeteries Cemeteries Wild West

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Access to the gardens is part of general admission to the museum.

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Added By

Allison

Edited By

shatomica, Collector of Experiences, cait7911

  • shatomica
  • Collector of Experiences
  • cait7911

Published

October 30, 2014

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  • http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-final-resting-place-of-rodeo-bulls-and-good-horses
  • https://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/research/about/galleries/plazagardens.aspx
Rodeo Animal Cemetery
1700 NE 63rd Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73111
United States
35.535206, -97.483054
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Nearby Places

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

The American Pigeon Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

Places 19
Stories 1

Nearby Places

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

The American Pigeon Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

Places 19
Stories 1

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A Final Resting Place for Rodeo Bulls & Good Horses

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By Allison Meier

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