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Roy Rogers: Happy Sales to You

Trigger and Roy mannequin.When the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum (last located in Branson, Missouri) closed in December of 2009, fans of the cowcouple were concerned…where would the museum’s extensive collection of Western Memorabilia end up? In particular, what would become of the institution’s most iconic (and, frankly, somewhat disturbing) prized possession: the taxidermied hide of Roy’s horse, Trigger?

Well, the answer will be determined at the high-end auction house Christie’s later this month. “The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum Collection” is set to be sold off on July 14th and 15th, with Trigger as finale lot #38 on the 14th (estimate: $100,000-$200,000).

Trigger is one of the most famous performing horses in history. Back when he was alive and lively, he had about 100 tricks in his repertoire, including shooting a gun and doing the hula. He had his own fan club and his hoof prints (along with Roy’s hand and boot prints) can be found in the hardened cement in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Roy's dog Bullet.If Trigger is out of your price range, you may want to bid on one of the other deceased animal companions with lower price points: Trigger Jr. ($30,000-40,000), Dale’s horse Buttermilk ($30,000-40,000), or perhaps the gifted German Shepherd Bullet ($10,000-15,000). Rest assured that Roy and Dale are conventionally buried in Apple Valley, California.

Will Trigger disappear from view into a private collection or will his rearing presence once again be displayed in a museum, accessible to the public? We naturally hope for the latter. But until then, you can visit America’s other stuffed and mounted equine exhibits:

Union General Phil Sheridan’s war horse Rienzi proudly resides in a glass case at the Hall of Armed Forces History at the Smithsonian. If you’d prefer to see a horse from the opposing side, head over the The Virginia Military Institute Museum in Lexington, where “Stonewall” Jackson’s favorite mount, Little Sorrel, can be found.

Comanche, tough survivor of The Battle of Little Big Horn, ended up at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum in Lawrence — his ownership the result of an unpaid taxidermy bill made out to the officers of nearby Fort Riley.

“The World’s Largest Stuffed Horse” is General, who stands in a rather sorry-looking stable at The West Virginia State Farm Museum in Point Pleasant. He’s big.

And then there’s the peaceful pony “Misty of Chincoteague”, featured in a series of charming books aimed at the foal fantasies of young girls. Misty and her offspring Stormy are on display at the Beebe Ranch. The large white patch on Misty’s side is said to resemble the United States, although, depending upon the bent of your imagination, it can look like anything from a pork chop to a dancing hippo. Like Trigger, Misty’s hoof prints are preserved in cement…over at the adorable and deco Roxy Movie Theatre in downtown Chinoteague. [Post by Anne D. Bernstein]

Sections: Closing, Events 1 Comment »

One Response to “Roy Rogers: Happy Sales to You”

  1. James Henager Says:
    July 24th, 2010 at 6:46 am

    The Roy Rogers Family Museum may be closed and they have sold all of the items. But the loneliest museum in America will not let Roy fans down now exhibiting around 600 items. It is a shame that all of Roy’s things have gone to private collectors

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