Lonesome Dove: Permanent Collection

The Lonesome Dove Collection at The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University invites the visitor on an in-depth journey through the iconic western “Lonesome Dove” – brought to life by acclaimed screenwriter Bill Wittliff in one of the most beloved television miniseries of all time. This multi-media permanent exhibit featuring scripts, character sketches, maps, stage diagrams, costumes, and film stills is organized by subdividing the existing ‘L’ shaped gallery plan into zones or ‘scenes’ aligned with the different story arcs of the series. The visitor is greeted by a dramatic sweep of costume display cases underscoring the cinematic scope of the miniseries. Following the entry, each exhibit zone features interactive touchscreen displays that allow visitors to access additional content from the collection’s archives. The collection culminates in a custom screening room for visitors to watch the completed film. The timeless quality of “Lonesome Dove” is accentuated by traditional materials such as stained pine and Saltillo tile dramatically juxtaposed with modern glass artifact cases and the wood, glass, metal, and leather gallery entry. McKinney York’s scope of design/build services included project management, exhibit planning and creative development, audiovisual design and specification, and exhibit case specification, procurement, and installation.