New ‘Cowgirls of Chandler’ exhibition now open

A new exhibition at the Chandler Museum is celebrating the role of women and girls in shaping Chandler’s cultural identity.

The exhibition is entitled “Pony Up! Cowgirls of Chandler.” It is open to the public now, and it is on display until Nov. 2, 2025. There are different artifacts, photos and stories from the women who worked on ranches and rodeos to solidify the city’s modern, Western feel.

Photos courtesy of the Chandler Museum

Sarah Biggerstaff, the Museum Storytelling Coordinator for the Chandler Museum, joined “Arizona Horizon” to provide more information about the exhibition.

“We’re talking about women and girls who helped shape Chandler and its agricultural roots. So it’s a really exciting exhibition featuring women in the rodeo, featuring women who worked on ranches, and also women who were visiting, who were here in the winter time, partaking in western traditions, amenities provided by the San Marcos Hotel, horseback riding, things like that,” Biggerstaff said

Biggerstaff explained how this exhibition also shares the history of Chandler with those who are unfamiliar with it.

“It was a small town; it still has that small-town feel, which is great. The spirit of the community is so strong, and it really has its roots in those early days. And so, back pre-1980s, the town was very small, and there was a lot of agricultural land. 1980s post to now, the population has exploded, and agricultural land has diminished. But again the community spirit is still there,” Biggerstaff said.

For more information on how to visit the “Pony Up! Cowgirls of Chandler” exhibition and other exhibitions, visit the Chandler Museum website.