Museums around the world may be closing to promote social distancing, and for some museum staff, that means assuming new roles in this unprecedented situation. At the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Tim is the head of security. Now that the museum is closed, however, Tim was given the added responsibility of managing the museum’s social media account — and the result is hilarious.
Photo: nationalcowboymuseum/Instagram
This Cowboy Museum’s Security Guard Is Now in Charge of Social Media, and His Posts Will Have You Laughing
by
Eben Diskin
Mar 25, 2020
“I’m new to social media,” Tim wrote in his first Instagram post, “but excited to share what I am told is ‘content’ on all of The Cowboy’s what I am told are ‘platforms’ including the Twitter, the Facebook, and the Instagram.”
Tim has been entertaining followers by giving guided virtual museum tours, showing off its many artifacts, but the real entertainment is Tim himself. His earnest attempts to figure out how social media works are endearing not just to the museum’s immediate community, but to the whole country.
This is the hat and eyepatch the Duke wore in the movie True Grit. They are part of our Exhibition about the 2 True Grit. Lots of interesting props and clothes. I’m told I can’t try it on. Hashtag John Wayne. Lucas, my grandson, told me to use hashtags. Thanks, Tim pic.twitter.com/yNO3RP4uA4
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 17, 2020
Whether it’s writing out “hashtag,” ending each post with “Thanks, Tim,” or his dad jokes, Tim is unintentionally killing it at his new job.
Thanks for all the tips, Friends. Realize I have been doing the hashtags wrong. I need to use that pound sign from the phone. I’m learning! Here’s his costume from True Grit from 1969 courtesy of John Wayne Enterprises. #HashtagJohnWayne Thanks, Tim pic.twitter.com/AZu7EidGu2
— Nat'l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) March 19, 2020
Seth Spillman, the museum’s chief marketing and communications director, said to CNN, “What we found was an authentic voice for the Museum. What we didn’t anticipate was how much that voice would resonate with people during this difficult time. It’s wonderful.”