FORT WORTH — The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum in Fort Worth will host its annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Weekend of Activities Nov. 6-7.

The excitement and participation has grown steadily each year as the museum continues to introduce the history of multicultural people involved in western culture to an ever-increasing multicultural audience.

The weekend line up begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, with a Hall of Fame Weekend Sponsor VIP Reception held at the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum, located at 3400 Mount Vernon Ave., Fort Worth.

VIPs from the sponsors of the 2009 Hall of Fame Weekend along with the 2009 inductees, alumni and invited symposium presenters will gather to network with one another, greet event attendees and enjoy good food and conversation.

The reception is open to the public. For tickets to attend, RSVP the museum’s business office by Nov. 2, at (817) 922-9999.

The weekend continues on Saturday, Nov. 7, with the “Forgotten Cowboys” Western Heritage Symposium, sponsored in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The symposium is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum.

During the symposium, museum guests will attend a series of western heritage sessions, in which they will learn about a proud heritage, learn to embrace diversity and tolerance, and encounter new role models, as they hear from western heritage historians and guest speakers who will increase museum guests’ knowledge of the complete history of the settlement of the western United States.

During each session, museum guests will be presented with the stories of the underrepresented persons who significantly contributed to the development of the American Western Frontier.

The sessions will consist of oral presentations by western heritage historians and guest speakers, the viewing of historic photographs and artifacts as well as opportunities for museum guests to interact with the speakers, test their knowledge of history and win prizes.

Museum guests are also invited to tour the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum free of charge during the symposium. The symposium is free of charge and open to the public, however, pre-registration is requested.

Students, educators, adult groups, youth groups and families are all encouraged to attend. Box Lunches will be available for $8, or feel free to bring a “brown bag.”

To register for the event, please contact the staff of the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum at (817) 922-9999 or at info@cowboysofcolor.org. Free parking is available.

The weekend activities conclude Saturday evening with the 2009 Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet, beginning with a reception for the honorees at 6 p.m., and followed by the Induction Ceremony and Banquet at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony salutes outstanding pioneers who contributed to the settling of the early American Western Frontier as well as acknowledge individuals who continue to be trailblazers committed to the legacy of western culture.

The 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees will include Mayisha Akbar, Alex Dees, Dean Smith and Ben F. Tahmahkera. 2009 posthumous inductions include Calvin Greely Jr., Henry Harris, Isaac Burns Murphy and Albino Tais. The museum’s notable hall of fame alumni include Bill Pickett, Quanah Parker, Jerry Diaz, Bass Reeves, Red Steagall and Cathay Williams.

For additional information about the 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees and other members of the museum’s hall of fame, visit the Web site at www.cowboysofcolor.org.

Tickets to attend the induction ceremony and banquet are available through the museum’s business office, (817) 922-9999 or e-mail info@cowboysofcolor.org.

Major supporters of this year’s activities include Humanities Texas (the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities), Alcon Laboratories, Coors Distributing Co. and the Fort Worth Business Press. For sponsorship or group ticket sales, call (817) 922-9999 or e-mail info@cowboysofcolor.org.

The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001 to acknowledge the contributions of Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, European Americans and African Americans in the settlement of the Western Frontier. The museum’s regular operation hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about the museum or the 2009 National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum Induction Ceremony Weekend Activities, please contact the staff.