Garland has unveiled a 20-foot-long cowboy hat sculpture in its downtown, celebrating the city’s unique heritage.
The massive installation, dubbed The Big Hat, honors Garland’s official designation as the “Cowboy Hat Capital of Texas.”
The public ceremony began at noon on September 27.
“I mean, we have a hat that even Big Tex would approve of,” said Amy Rosenthal, Cultural Arts Director for the City of Garland, per NBC 5 DFW.
The sculpture arrived on September 25 on an extra-wide trailer from Mello Signs of Fort Worth. It now stands near the city’s historic rail yard, blocks from where iconic cowboy hats have been crafted for nearly a century.
“A couple of years ago, we renovated our square. We’ve got all kinds of live music happening, and great places to eat. And so, we wanted to add a special project. We worked with the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Garland Cultural Arts Commission to create the biggest cowboy hat in Texas,” Rosenthal explained.
Garland’s hat-making legacy stretches back to 1938. The city hosts industry leaders, including HatCo, Inc., Master Hatters of Texas, and Dorfman Milano.
These manufacturers produce well-known worldwide brands, including Resistol, Stetson, Justin, and Scala. Their work has adorned Hollywood stars, U.S. Presidents, and music legends, including George Strait and Beyoncé.
John Travolta wore their hats in Urban Cowboy. Larry Hagman’s J.R. Ewing character sported them in Dallas, while Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush also donned Garland-made headwear.
“This is a permanent installation. So, it’s got lighting trimmed, and at night, it will come alive to help kind of entertain people when they’re downtown in Garland at night,” Rosenthal said, per NBC.
The unveiling coincides with the opening of Hats Off to Garland, a new exhibit showcasing the city’s influence on cowboy culture. More information about Garland’s hat-making history is available at the city’s tourism website.