Cowboy Hat Hall of Fame Inductees: 1609-2023
1609 – Pocahontas’ Feathered Fedora
Pocahontas traded her native headdress for a fashionable fedora, complete with feathers. Rumor has it, it was this hat that convinced John Smith she was a true trendsetter.
1610 – John Rolfe’s Jamestown Top Hat
John Rolfe sported a top hat to celebrate the first successful tobacco crop. It was said to be so tall it doubled as a chimney for his pipe.
1620 – Pilgrim Pete’s Pilgrim Hat
When the Mayflower landed, Pilgrim Pete was seen wearing a broad-brimmed, buckle-clad hat that set the standard for fashionably austere headwear.
1630 – Anne Hutchinson’s Hat of Heresy
Anne Hutchinson rocked a bonnet with a rebellious tilt, symbolizing her audacious spirit and making a statement that fashion could indeed be forward-thinking.
1640 – Captain Underhill’s Cavalier Cap
Captain John Underhill of the Massachusetts Bay Colony donned a dashing cavalier cap, proving that even Puritans could appreciate a flamboyant feather.
1650 – King Philip’s (Metacom) Mighty Hat
King Philip of the Wampanoag donned a hat with so many adornments, it was said to rival the wealth of the colonists he was resisting.
1660 – Virginia’s Plantation Planter Hat
In the heat of the plantations, Virginia’s elite sported wide-brimmed hats to shield their faces from the sun and their egos from humility.
1670 – William Penn’s Quaker Quip Cap
William Penn’s simple, wide-brimmed hat represented Quaker humility but became a paradoxical symbol of land-acquiring extravagance.
1680 – Mary Rowlandson’s Captivity Cap
Mary Rowlandson’s tale of captivity wasn’t just about survival; her hat, stitched from found materials, showcased frontier ingenuity.
1690 – Cotton Mather’s Witchfinder Hat
Cotton Mather’s hat was practical for both sermon-giving and witch-finding, complete with pockets for hiding “evidence” of witchcraft.
1700 – Blackbeard’s Bejeweled Bicorne
Pirate Blackbeard’s bicorne hat was festooned with jewels and feathers, making him the most stylish scourge of the seas.
1710 – Paul Revere’s Revolutionary Tricorn
Before his famous ride, Paul Revere donned a tricorn hat with a special secret compartment for midnight messages.
1720 – Benjamin Franklin’s Bifocal Brim
Ben Franklin’s hat featured built-in bifocals, allowing him to read and invent without ever needing to remove his headgear.
1730 – Daniel Boone’s Coonskin Cap
Daniel Boone’s coonskin cap became iconic for frontiersmen, complete with a tail that doubled as a handy back-scratcher.
1740 – Betsy Ross’ Bonnet of Freedom
Betsy Ross wore a bonnet while sewing the first American flag, rumored to have secret pockets for smuggling sewing supplies.
1750 – George Washington’s Presidential Peruke
George Washington’s powdered wig-hat hybrid combined elegance with practicality, keeping his head cool and his style impeccable.
1760 – Thomas Jefferson’s Diplomatic Derby
Thomas Jefferson sported a derby hat during his diplomatic missions, with a hidden flask to help endure tedious treaties.
1770 – Patrick Henry’s Liberty Cap
Patrick Henry’s hat was more than headwear; it was a symbol of liberty, often raised high during his passionate speeches.
1780 – Alexander Hamilton’s Duel Dandy Hat
Alexander Hamilton’s stylish hat was the envy of his peers, though it failed to stop a fatal bullet in his famous duel.
1790 – John Adams’ Adjudicator Hat
John Adams’ hat featured extra-wide brims, useful for shielding himself from political attacks and unworthy arguments.
1800 – Sacagawea’s Trailblazing Turban
Sacagawea’s turban was both functional and fashionable, protecting her from the elements while guiding Lewis and Clark.
1810 – Davy Crockett’s Alamo Hat
Davy Crockett’s hat was rumored to be so tough it could deflect cannonballs, though history suggests otherwise.
1820 – Andrew Jackson’s Battle Bonnet
Andrew Jackson’s battle bonnet was an intimidating sight, often causing opponents to surrender before a shot was fired.
1830 – Nat Turner’s Rebel Cap
Nat Turner’s cap became a symbol of resistance, worn proudly during his courageous fight against slavery.
1840 – Sam Houston’s Texan Ten-Gallon
Sam Houston’s ten-gallon hat became a staple of Texan identity, allegedly large enough to carry a day’s worth of provisions.
1850 – Harriet Tubman’s Conductor Cap
Harriet Tubman’s cap, often tilted forward, was her trusted companion on countless journeys to freedom.
1860 – Abraham Lincoln’s Stovepipe Hat
Abe Lincoln’s stovepipe hat was iconic, often doubling as a storage unit for important documents and secret notes.
1870 – Jesse James’ Outlaw Fedora
Jesse James’ fedora had a rakish angle, perfect for robbing banks in style and evading the law.
1880 – Billy the Kid’s Buckaroo Hat
Billy the Kid’s hat, though often riddled with bullet holes, was a symbol of his wild and untamed spirit.
1890 – Sitting Bull’s Victory Headdress
Sitting Bull’s headdress was adorned with eagle feathers, representing his courage and leadership.
1900 – Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Rider Hat
Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Rider hat saw action in battle and national parks alike, embodying his adventurous spirit.
1910 – Buffalo Bill’s Showman Stetson
Buffalo Bill’s Stetson hat was grand and flamboyant, befitting his status as America’s greatest showman.
1920 – Wyatt Earp’s Lawman Hat
Wyatt Earp’s hat was as straight and unwavering as his dedication to law and order in the Wild West.
1930 – Will Rogers’ Humor Hat
Will Rogers’ hat had a humorous tilt, much like his wit, and became a symbol of his down-to-earth charm.
1940 – John Wayne’s Duke Hat
John Wayne’s cowboy hat was iconic in film, setting the standard for cinematic cowboys for generations.
1950 – Roy Rogers’ Rhinestone Cowboy Hat
Roy Rogers’ rhinestone-studded hat sparkled as brightly as his career, symbolizing the glamor of the silver screen.
1960 – JFK’s Western Hat
John F. Kennedy’s western hat, worn during his campaign tours, was a nod to America’s frontier spirit.
1970 – Dolly Parton’s Glamorous Hat
Dolly Parton’s cowboy hat was as bold and dazzling as her personality, adorned with rhinestones and sequins.
1980 – Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Cowboy Hat
Ronald Reagan’s cowboy hat became a symbol of his rugged, all-American image, blending politics with western flair.
1990 – Garth Brooks’ Concert Cowboy Hat
Garth Brooks’ hat, worn during his energetic performances, became a staple of 90s country music fashion.
2000 – Shania Twain’s Empowerment Hat
Shania Twain’s hat symbolized female empowerment in country music, proving that women could rock the cowboy hat with style.
2010 – Barack Obama’s Presidential Stetson
Barack Obama donned a Stetson to connect with America’s heartland, showing that even a modern president can appreciate cowboy culture.
2020 – Lil Nas X’s Neon Cowboy Hat
Lil Nas X’s neon cowboy hat became an icon of the genre-blending hit “Old Town Road,” symbolizing the merging of tradition and modernity.
2021 – Dr. Anthony Fauci’s Pandemic Protector
Dr. Anthony Fauci’s cowboy hat, adorned with tiny masks and sanitizer bottles, became a humorous yet poignant symbol of resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 – Elon Musk’s Space Cowboy Hat
Elon Musk’s futuristic cowboy hat, designed with solar panels and satellite connectivity, embodied his vision of taking cowboy culture to Mars.
2023 – AI’s Algorithmic Cowboy Hat
In a surprising turn, 2023’s inductee is an AI-designed cowboy hat, perfectly fitted using algorithms and machine learning to ensure style and comfort for all.
And thus concludes our satirical and humorous journey through the Cowboy Hat Hall of Fame, celebrating the quirky and iconic headwear from 1609 to 2023.
Cowboy Hat Hall of Fame
