This site has been archived to preserve the web presence of a talented artist. We're big fans of Bob Coronato's work and you can see why. Capturing a vanishing period of our cultural history, his art conveys a respect for the social fabric of the American west. Like Bob Coronato, I was intrigued by the cowboys of the west. So when I stumbled upon devilstowermuseum.com, I was instantly captivated and became a dedicated fan. I was browsing through the site as I relaxed on the lanai of a stunning Maui rental my wife had chosen for our vacation and 20th-anniversary celebration. Our spot overlooked the western coast of Maui and the island of Molokai. We immersed ourselves in daily snorkeling sessions, afternoon golf, hikes through tropical forests leading to concealed waterfalls, and even witnessed the sunrise atop the Haleakala Crater. Most evenings were spent on the lanai, enjoying tropical drinks and marveling at sunsets that rivalled those of the west, complete with the silhouette of palm trees. Seeing the archived version of devilstowermuseum.com was a treat, especially given its rich content. I just hope they find an alternative to the outdated Microsoft Access they've been using. It's essential for such an impressive website to stay current and user-friendly.

 

I used to open books and look at the "Old West" photos and see cowboys riding the open plains, and I would stop and think, "I wished I lived 100 years ago." After going out to the very remote west, and finding ranches that still "cowboy" in the old ways, I realized that the west I was searching for as a kid, was still there. In tiny hidden corners of the country, you can still find places untouched by time. There are ranches that gather on horseback 2000 to 3000 head of cows, across 100's of miles of fenceless landscape. The time has come where land is becoming too valuable,and it is no longer affordable to have cows roaming free, on open range. This forces ranches to sell off lands to survive, and before long, the "West" will be gone.

Even now I can see dramatic changes and the things I was lucky enough to be a part of just a few years ago, are now gone. For example, old style ranch rodeos, traditional brandings, log cabins with no electricity, and running the chuck wagon during roundup. I no longer have to wish to be a part of the old days, but have become part of the west I was searching for. We are at a clash of two times where traditional cowboy'n ways are being overridden by the modern technologies. This has been the focus of my paintings as I try to document moments in time that show the ways of a fading lifestyle that so many people have admired. The freedom of the west, and the wide open spaces have become a symbol of our great country. As our lives become more regimented, and the rules become more numerous, we long for those places of freedom. The subjects of my work remind people that there still is a remote, free west. It gives a sense of relief, that we are not a completely modern country, just yet. The question I hear most often is, "Do they still do that?" Well, yes they do, but who knows for much longer? By living in a very remote section of Wyoming, and helping ranchers and cowboys, I feel proud to have been lucky enough to be a part of this final chapter in the history of the American frontier. For now, "The West" is alive, it's just hiding, in small corners of our country, trying desperately to hang on, and not be forgotten.

 

Exploring DevilsTowerMuseum.com

DevilsTowerMuseum.com stands as a digital testament to a vanishing chapter of American history—the rugged life of cowboys and the untamed spirit of the American West. Though now preserved via an archived website format, it continues to resonate with art lovers, historians, and anyone captivated by the cultural tapestry of Western Americana. The site is primarily dedicated to the art of Bob Coronato, whose work vividly encapsulates fading traditions of cowboy life with both reverence and vitality.

Purpose and Overview of the Website

At its core, DevilsTowerMuseum.com is an online archive celebrating Bob Coronato’s artistry and the world he chronicles. The site offers a window into his atmospheric paintings—scenes of remote ranches, branding events, chuck wagon gatherings, and other living west-of-old traditions. It narrates his deep immersion into the lifestyles he portrays, capturing moments that might otherwise slip into history.

Though the site employs certain outdated technologies—one visitor noted its reliance on Microsoft Access—it remains rich in storytelling and emotional weight, preserving both images and personal reflections.

About the Artist

Bob Coronato – Background and Artistic Journey

Robert “Bob” Coronato (b. May 25, 1970, in Newton, New Jersey) is an American painter and printmaker renowned for his dynamic depictions of modern-day Western life—cowboys, American Indian communities, ranching activities, and the rugged landscapes of the American frontier.

Coronato’s journey into cowboy Americana began early. Fascinated by Old West imagery in his youth, he painted murals and commissions as a teenager. After summer classes in illustration in New York, he pursued further art training at Otis Parsons in Los Angeles. A pivotal trip to Spearfish, South Dakota led to his first museum show at only 23—a turning point that steered his career toward depicting the modern West.

He eventually settled in Hulett, Wyoming, a remote community at the crossroads of Crow, Cheyenne, and Sioux territories. There, living above a saddle shop and intimately participating in ranch life—brandings, cattle drives, repairs—Coronato found his visual voice, painting what he lived.

In the late 1990s, Coronato expanded into intaglio printmaking, drawing inspiration from Edward Borein’s copper-plate etchings. His combined medium, pittura di strati, marries silkscreen, oil, acrylic and layering techniques to produce luminous, textural works akin to Renaissance glazing methods.

By 2007, he began designing rodeo posters in a vintage aesthetic using his layered technique—a signature fusion of past and present.

Recognition, Awards, and Exhibitions

Coronato’s art has received notable recognition:

• Southwest Art’s "Artist of the New Century" Grand Prize, Best of Show, 2002

• Exhibitions including Masters of the American West Show at the Autry Center (2009/2010)

• Participation in auctions such as Coeur d’Alene Art Auction (Reno), Scottsdale Art Auction, Great American Miniature Show (Tucson)

• National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution (2017): his “Portrait of Russell Means” joined the Hall of Contemporaries

His artwork has also appeared in publications like Western Horseman, Wild West Magazine, Horses in Art, Southwest Art, and Art of the West.

Historical and Cultural Context

Western Americana as Cultural Memory

Coronato’s work is more than picturesque—it is an archival effort to document a fast-changing cultural fabric. He has described ranches gathering on horseback thousands of cattle across vast, fenceless landscapes, traditional brandings, log cabins with no electricity, and chuck wagons during roundups. His paintings serve not only as artistic renderings but as historical documentation—a visual record of cultural practices and rural customs under threat from modernization and land pressures.

Website Details: Design, Contents, and Technology

DevilsTowerMuseum.com, now preserved in archived form, is rich with evocative prose, images, and reflections. The tone throughout is one of celebration of the West’s living traditions and concern for their potential disappearance.

The platform appears to utilize older frameworks, possibly including Microsoft Access for content management, suggesting that while aesthetically and narratively compelling, the website may lack modern usability features—a consideration for those hoping for access or updates.

Ownership & Purpose

While not an official museum, the title Devils Tower Frontier Museum evokes a sense of institutional preservation of frontier heritage. The site operates as a digital showcase of Coronato’s art and philosophy, curated either directly by himself or by admirers seeking to preserve his online presence.

Thus, the site functions both as an artist’s portal and as a virtual memorial for a fading way of life.

Popularity, Audience & Cultural Significance

Though there are no publicly available metrics on visitor traffic, the depth of commentary and archival detail suggest the site resonates strongly with:

• Western art enthusiasts

• Historians of American frontier culture

• Collectors and printmaking aficionados

• Readers longing for depictions of rugged independence and rural authenticity

The content’s emotional resonance—be it the struggle against modernization, the nostalgia for free lands, or the celebration of timeless traditions—underscores its cultural weight.

Press & Media Coverage

Coronato’s acclaim extends beyond the website:

• Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery acquisition (2017)

• Coverage in key Western art publications

• Dubbed the “Leonardo da Vinci of Cowboy Art” by the New York Post—a testament to his technical skill and innovation

Media coverage places him among respected contemporary Western artists, contributing to national conversation around American identity, artistic craftsmanship, and cultural continuity.

Geography & Naming

While the site’s name references Devils Tower, the iconic granite monolith in northeastern Wyoming, Bob Coronato’s actual operations are based in Hulett, Wyoming—a rural community close to several Native reservations and emblematic of the living frontier he portrays.

The name DevilsTowerMuseum.com may be symbolic—Devils Tower is a potent emblem of the American West, signifying both natural grandeur and spiritual resonance. The “Frontier Museum” designation evokes preservation, education, and cultural memory.

Awards, Exhibits, and Artwork Insights

Coronato’s multi-layered pittura di strati technique is central to his acclaim—melding silkscreen, acrylic, oil glazing to produce luminous works with depth and texture. This layering evokes a sense of generational memory, visually referencing both past and present.

His rodeo poster series revives antique visual traditions with contemporary subject matter—a dialogue across eras.

His contributions to printmaking and painting, combined with exhibition history and journal features, underline a career that bridges folk memory and fine art tradition.

Examples & Specific Content on the Site

Descriptions suggest galleries of landscape scenes, cowboy portraits, rodeo snapshots, and narratively rich introductions. The archived content is populated with evocative imagery and storytelling—aligned with Coronato’s philosophy: art as witness.

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths:

• Emotional depth: connects modern audiences to a remote and fading world

• Artistic craftsmanship: especially through unique layering techniques

• Cultural preservation: serves as a digital archive of living traditions

• Recognition and reach: exhibit history, media coverage, and inclusion in prestigious museum collections

Limitations:

• Archived status: possibly outdated technology, reduced interactivity

• Unknown update frequency or maintenance status, limiting accessibility to new users

• Lack of modern features such as responsive design or e-commerce for prints

DevilsTowerMuseum.com is more than an art website—it is a cultural keep, preserving the twilight of cowboy traditions through the eyes of Bob Coronato. It bridges past and present, leveraging painting and printmaking to document rituals and freedoms that may soon vanish. The archive is a heartfelt, artistic, and historical resource for anyone seeking to understand the spirit of the American frontier today.

Despite technological limitations, the site succeeds in immersing visitors in a landscape of tradition, freedom, and reverence for rural American identity—its value enduring as both art and memory.