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Home > Plan Your Visit > Cowboy Hat Capital of Texas

Crowning Glory: Garland’s Reign as the

Cowboy Hat Capital of Texas

A Legend Begins on the Open Range

When John B. Stetson blocked his first “Boss of the Plains” in 1865, the wide‑brimmed, high‑crowned silhouette solved a frontier problem: one hat sturdy enough to shade a wrangler, fan a campfire, and water a horse. Function soon met romance—cowboys splashed their personalities across their brims, and the hat became instant shorthand for grit, freedom, and the American West. Gus McCrae in Lonesome Dove, John Wayne on the silver screen, and rodeo champions everywhere stitched that image into world culture. Today, a glance at a felt crown still teleports travelers to Texas—even if they’re standing in Tokyo or Turin.

Image: Byer-Rolnick Hat Co. covered the heads of cowboys, celebrities and politicians with its Resistol and other hat brands. Inspecting stock circa 1955 is William C. Cook, Head of Quality Control, who was part of the firm's original work force that moved from Dallas to its new Garland plant during 1938-1939. In 1968, William Cook retired from Byer-Rolnick and established Master Hatters. Garland Landmark Museum Archives

Where the Hat Takes Shape

Stetson’s breakthrough lit a spark in North Texas factories. By 1938, the Byer‑Rolnick company—makers of the weather‑proof Resistol®®—had outgrown Dallas and moved its looms and ribbon machines up the rail line to Garland. That decision ignited an industrial cluster that now turns out more than one million cowboy hats every year.

For decades, skilled hat makers in Garland have crafted hats worn by iconic figures—from John Travolta in Urban Cowboy and J. R. Ewing in Dallas, to presidents like LBJ and George W. Bush, and music legends from George Strait to Beyoncé—all made just steps from Garland’s historic rail yard.

Their craftsmanship has turned Garland into a city where Western tradition meets industrial pride—and where the cowboy hat is more than attire—it’s an identity.

In 2013, the Texas Legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution 96, officially designating Garland as the Cowboy Hat Capital of Texas. Lawmakers cited the city’s unmatched concentration of western hat makers, whose handcrafted products ship worldwide and represent generations of Texas tradition.

Tiny Hat Scavenger Hunt: A Downtown Adventure

In Garland, our cowboy hat story isn’t just something to read about—it’s something you can experience. The Tiny Hat Scavenger Hunt invites you to explore Downtown Garland in a fun, interactive way, following clues to discover handcrafted brass cowboy hats hidden along the way.

Each stop reveals a different side of downtown—from public art and historic spaces to local gathering spots—bringing Garland’s cowboy hat culture to life in unexpected ways.

Whether you’re visiting for the day or rediscovering your hometown, the hunt is yours to enjoy anytime, at your own pace. So grab a clue sheet and start exploring—there’s a little piece of Garland waiting around every corner.

Start The Hunt

The Big Hat — A Texas‑Sized Landmark Takes Its Place

Downtown Garland has unveiled its newest landmark—a 20‑foot‑long, 16‑foot‑wide, 6‑foot‑tall silver‑belly cowboy hat perched 15 feet above the corner of Main & Fifth Streets in the Bankhead Cultural Arts District. Instantly photo‑ready, the Big Hat is already becoming Garland’s signature selfie spot and a must‑see for every visitor.

Discover the new giant cowboy hat sculpture in Garland

Catch a glimpse of the newest downtown attraction, a 20-foot cowboy hat sculpture, now lighting up the night.

Step Aside, Big Tex: Garland unveils state's largest cowboy hat

The City of Garland, Texas will unveil a 20-foot-wide cowboy hat sculpture on September 27th, making it the largest hat in Texas and celebrating the city's legacy as the Cowboy Hat Capital of Texas.

City of Garland unveils massive hat, marking its place as the Cowboy hat capital of Texas

Three cowboy hat manufacturers are based in Garland.

Garland now home to what could be the largest cowboy hat in Texas

The sculpture is fittingly known as "The Big Hat" was put into place in Downtown Garland on Thursday.

Garland unveils giant cowboy hat sculpture, celebrates Texas roots

The City of Garland is celebrating its newest landmark-a massive cowboy hat sculpture believed to be the largest in Texas. Standing over six feet tall and stretching 20 feet wide, the sculpture honors Garland's title as the official Cowboy Hat Capital of Texas.

Garland honors hat-making legacy with giant cowboy hat and museum exhibit

Garland is celebrating its nearly century-long cowboy hat-making legacy with a new giant hat sculpture and museum exhibit in Downtown Square. The city, officially named the "Cowboy Hat Capital of Texas," showcases its history with brands like Resistol and Stetson, whose hats have been worn by celebrities and presidents.

The Story Behind the Sculpture

Made possible in part through a Cultural District Project grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, this 20‑foot‑long by 16‑foot‑wide, 6‑foot‑tall cowboy hat will rest atop a 15‑foot pole at the intersection of Main and Fifth Streets—the gateway to Garland’s Bankhead Cultural Arts District.

Here’s what makes it special:

  • Collaborative Design: Designers from Dorfman Milano, Hatco, Inc., and Master Hatters of Texas donated classic crown blocks so artist‑fabricator Mello Signs could laser‑scan and merge them into a truly “Garland” profile.
  • Craft Meets Culture: Inspired by famous roadside icons like San Antonio’s Giant Cowboy Boots and Dallas’s Eyeball sculpture, The Big Hat will draw visitors, selfie seekers, and Western fashion fans alike.
  • Day or Night Appeal: Color-changing LED lighting ensures the hat can be admired around the clock, glowing with Texas pride well into the evening.
  • Biggest in Texas: Based on our research, Garland’s Big Hat will be the largest cowboy hat in the Lone Star State, standing tall among all others and ready to claim its place as a true Texas landmark.

Construction and site prep are underway, with complete installation targeted for early September 2025. We’re keeping the final silhouette under wraps to preserve the wow factor—but rest assured: this hat will be a head-turner.


Cowboy Hat Capital Highlights

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