Back to JournalAt John Wayne: An American Experience in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, visitors can explore original artifacts connected to True Grit, the 1969 film that earned John Wayne the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film introduced audiences to U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, a tough, one-eyed lawman whose grit and humor helped make the movie one of the most memorable Westerns ever filmed.
Several objects from the film and from John Wayne’s personal collection are now on display in the museum, offering a closer look at the role that earned Wayne his long-awaited Oscar.
John Wayne’s Academy Award for Best Actor
The centerpiece of the display is John Wayne’s Academy Award for Best Actor, presented at the 42nd Academy Awards in 1970 for his performance in True Grit. After decades of iconic roles in Western films, the award recognized Wayne’s portrayal of Rooster Cogburn as one of the defining performances of his career.
When accepting the Oscar, Wayne famously joked:
“If I’d have known that, I’d have put that patch on thirty-five years earlier.”
Today, the award remains one of the most recognizable artifacts in the museum and a highlight for visitors interested in the history of American film.
John Wayne’s Rooster Cogburn Costume and Eyepatch from True Grit
Also on display is Rooster Cogburn’s costume and eyepatch, worn by John Wayne in True Grit. These pieces helped define the character’s unmistakable appearance on screen. Seeing the costume up close reveals the craftsmanship and detail that helped bring the rugged U.S. marshal to life.
For many visitors, the eyepatch has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the character and of Wayne’s Oscar-winning performance.
Firearms from the World of True Grit
The exhibit also includes screen-used firearms associated with the film, including Winchester Model 1892 carbines and other historic weapons that reflect the frontier setting of the story.
Several of these firearms are also part of the museum’s special exhibition, The John Wayne Gun Collection: The Guns That Won the West, which explores the firearms used in Wayne’s films and the broader history of Western storytelling.
Letters, Books, and the Story Behind the Film
Visitors can also see materials that reveal how True Grit came together, including correspondence between John Wayne, author Charles Portis, and screenwriter Marguerite Roberts. These documents provide insight into the collaboration that helped bring the story from page to screen.
The display also features John Wayne’s personal first edition of the novel True Grit, offering a glimpse into the source material that inspired the film.
Together, these artifacts help tell the story of how True Grit became one of the most celebrated Western films ever made and how John Wayne’s portrayal of Rooster Cogburn earned him the Academy Award.
Correspondence between John Wayne, True Grit author Charles Portis, and screenwriter Marguerite Roberts, alongside Wayne’s personal first edition copy of True Grit, on display in the expansion area at John Wayne: An American Experience in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Experience It in Person
See John Wayne’s Oscar, Rooster Cogburn’s costume, and True Grit artifacts on display in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
