The rhythmic echo of hooves fills the galleries of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, not literally, but in spirit. The new exhibition Soldaderas to Amazonas: Escaramuzas Charras feels like stepping into a living story where artifacts, photographs, and poetry breathe life into a rich, layered history.
For nearly 50 years, this Fort Worth institution has championed women whose lives shaped the American West. But with Soldaderas to Amazonas, the Museum takes a bold leap south of the border, highlighting a tradition as steeped in history as it is in breathtaking artistry: the escaramuza charra.
The exhibition is not merely a collection of artifacts, it’s an immersive dive into a world where precision, culture, and courage intersect. And it’s hard not to be moved.
A Celebration in Two Acts
The first gallery greets visitors with a riot of color and texture. Adelita-inspired dresses in brilliant reds, blues, and gold dominate the room, their intricate embroidery and lacework rivaling anything you might find on a couture runway. Worn during daring performances, these garments are as functional as they are beautiful, designed to flow seamlessly as riders execute tightly synchronized formations on horseback.
Beyond the dresses, the gallery offers a deep dive into the material culture of escaramuza: elaborately crafted sombreros charros, rebozos (traditional shawls), boots, and horse tack that shimmer with vibrant detail. Each piece tells a story—not only of its maker but of the generations of women who wore it and the legacy they carried forward.
Standing before these textiles, you can’t help but imagine the riders in motion, the fabric catching the wind as horses thunder across an arena. It’s an image that embodies both artistry and athleticism, one that lingers long after you leave.
The second gallery shifts gears, offering a quieter, more contemplative experience. Escaramuza: The Poetics of Home is a series of portraits by acclaimed photographer Constance Jaeggi. Her lens captures the escaramuzas in intimate detail: a rider adjusting her wide-brimmed sombrero, a young woman resting beside her horse, the quiet pride etched into their faces.
Jaeggi’s photographs are paired with original poetry by Texas Poet Laureate Ire’ne Lara Silva and educator-poet Angelina Sáenz. Their verses bring the gallery to life, exploring themes of identity, family, and belonging within the escaramuza tradition. In one particularly moving piece, Sáenz writes of “the sound of hooves marking the rhythm of resistance”—a poetic nod to the soldaderas, the female revolutionaries whose legacy infuses modern escaramuza with profound meaning.
A Bridge Between Past and Present
What makes Soldaderas to Amazonas so compelling is how seamlessly it ties the escaramuza tradition to its historical roots. The exhibition doesn’t shy away from the political. It draws clear connections between the soldaderas of the Mexican Revolution, women who fought, supported, and organized on the frontlines—and the fearless riders of today.
But this isn’t simply a history lesson. The exhibition also feels deeply personal, thanks in no small part to curator Diana Vela, Ph.D., whose family history is steeped in the culture of the Rio Grande Valley. Vela’s meticulous research and passion for storytelling infuse every corner of the exhibition. Her collaboration with Jaeggi brings a modern lens to an ancient tradition, while bilingual guides and enhanced online content ensure accessibility for visitors of all backgrounds.
A Larger Conversation
Beyond its artistic and historical merits, Soldaderas to Amazonas is a call to reflect on the broader themes of gender, identity, and cultural preservation. The programming that accompanies the exhibition is as rich as the galleries themselves: forums with U.S. escaramuza teams, discussions on the Adelita as a feminist icon, and bilingual guides that ensure accessibility for families and schools alike.
What’s most exciting is that this exhibition doesn’t end here. When the show concludes in March 2025, Jaeggi’s photography series will travel nationwide, bringing the story of the escaramuzas to new audiences.
A Ride Worth Taking
What struck me most about Soldaderas to Amazonas was its emotional resonance. The exhibition doesn’t just ask you to marvel at the artistry of the escaramuzas, it invites you to see them as people. People who carry on a tradition born of resistance, shaped by community, and sustained by sheer will.
Standing in the galleries, surrounded by textiles, portraits, and poetry, I found myself wondering: What does it mean to carry forward a legacy? For the escaramuzas, it means hours of training, the weight of tradition, and the courage to keep riding in a world that often overlooks their contributions.
For visitors, it means leaving with a renewed appreciation for the power of storytelling and the realization that history is alive, galloping all around us.
If you have the chance to visit Soldaderas to Amazonas: Escaramuzas Charras, take it. You’ll leave inspired, enriched, and, like me, in quiet awe of the women who ride boldly into history every day. The exhibition runs through March 2025.