By Pat Treviño, Cuero Online News
CUERO, TX -The Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum has opened a powerful new exhibition celebrating one of the most enduring Western stories in American literature and film. The showcase, titled “Lonesome Dove,” is now on display through July 11, 2026, offering visitors a rare visual journey into the making of the acclaimed 1989 CBS miniseries.
Based on Larry McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, Lonesome Dove follows two retired Texas Rangers who push a cattle herd from the Rio Grande all the way to Montana, carving out the first ranch in the territory. The novel’s sweeping narrative and unforgettable characters captured the imagination of readers nationwide, and the television adaptation introduced the epic tale to millions more.
The museum’s new exhibition brings that world to life through the lens of Bill Wittliff, the celebrated photographer, writer, and executive producer of the miniseries. His images—far more than standard production stills—reveal the grit, scale, and artistry behind the filming. Each photograph reflects the intersection of storytelling, history, and visual craftsmanship that made Lonesome Dove a cultural landmark.
This traveling exhibition was developed by The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University and is presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Together, these institutions have created an experience that honors both the creative legacy of the miniseries and the broader heritage of the American West.
The exhibit is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum, 302 N. Esplanade in Cuero. Museum staff encourage visitors not to miss this limited‑run opportunity to explore one of Texas’s most iconic stories through a new artistic lens.