Want to get "out of the saddle" for a few hours and disappear? Pull on your jeans and cowboy boots and step into the frontier west of yesteryear at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles' Griffith Park.

Opened in 1988, the Autry Museum receives major support from the Autry Foundation. Although Gene Autry was best known as a crooner of western ballads, the spirit of this museum is the preservation and acquisition of fine art, books, manuscripts, and artifacts that document the American West and its history.

The sprawling buildings with their red-tiled roofs center on a dramatic inner courtyard. A life-size bronze sculpture of Autry, "Back in the Saddle Again" greets visitors as they step into the courtyard.

The western art and heritage collection paints a vivid picture of life in the old west. Some items exhibited are branding irons, saddles, a chuck wagon, firearms, folk art, and original art by N.C. Wyeth and Frederic Remington. The ornate silk patterns of an American Indian wedding dress are also on display. Visitors can see Teddy Roosevelt's Colt revolver and Annie Oakley's gold-plated Smith and Wesson, as well as view a large collection of clips from old Western movies are also on display. With over 85,000 objects, you could spend all day.

The two-story museum is home to seven permanent galleries focused on the spirit of the old west. At the main entrance, pick up a gallery map. On the lower level, The Spirit of Opportunity Gallery looks at the migration westward prior to the American Civil War. The Spirit of Community Gallery explores the ethnic diversity of the west in the 1890s, focused on family, occupation, education, religion and political influences. The Spirit of Conquest Gallery examines the conflict between the native Americans and influx of the white man. The Spirit of the Cowboy Gallery offers a rich and varied exploration of the cowboy image. This gallery is also home to the Los Angeles Times Children's Discovery Gallery, a multicultural laboratory that fosters ancestral pride and builds an appreciation of cultural heritage.

On the upper level, the Spirit of Discovery Gallery examines different cultures from prehistoric to the present. The Spirit of Romance Gallery offers a unique glimpse into the life and times of artists, authors, and performers during the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. The Spirit of Imagination Gallery reveals the influence that film, radio, television, and art had on the western states and its people.

There's more to discover in the additional exhibits. The George Montgomery Gallery, named after Audry's friend, former movie star, western artist and furniture maker George Montgomery, hold special exhibitions. The Showcase Gallery is used for smaller and temporary installations. Trails west, an outdoor environment that explores mountain, desert, grassland, and explores the natural Western environments.

Exhibits change every four months. On March 4, 2000, the U. S. premier of the Buffalo Bill Wild West from Leeds, England will open and run through July 9, 2000.

An opportunity to explore and discover, the Autry Museum holds a rich legacy of our Western Americana.

The museum is less crowded during weekday afternoons. Museum hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays. Admission is: $7.50 for adults, senior's age 60 and older and students are $5.00. Children, ages 2 to 12, $3.00 and under age 2 free.

The museum, a part of Griffith Park, located across from the Los Angeles Zoo, is situated at the junction of the Golden State Freeway (5) and the Ventura Freeway (134). Phone: (323) 667-2000.