Trailside Galleries and Main Trail Galleries Artists' Files

Collection

Identifier: RC2022-005

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains materials relating to the operation of Trailside Galleries and the Flood art world. It includes letters, photographs, advertising, exhibition catalogs, sales information, and newspaper clippings. The Trailside Galleries and Main Trail Galleries Artists' Files materials are arranged in 4 boxes: artist files, Trailside Gallery files, and other gallery files. Artist files are arranged alphabetically by artist last name.

Dates

Creation: 1935 - 1997

Creator

Trailside Galleries (Organization)
Main Trail Galleries (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

The Trailside Galleries and Main Trail Galleries Artists' Files has no restrictions and is available for research. If you are interested in researching the materials, please contact the Dickinson Research Center to make an appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

The Trailside Galleries and Main Trail Galleries Artists' Files is the property of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Materials, even if owned by the NCWHM, may be protected under third party copyright. It is the patron’s responsibility to research and secure any such additional copyright and pay any required fees or royalties. It is not the intention of the NCWHM to impede upon any third party rights, and the NCWHM cannot be held responsible if the patron is involved in legal action due to violation of third party copyright claims.

Biographical / Historical

Richard J. “Dick” Flood II

Richard J. Flood II was a Western art collector hailing from Anaconda, Montana. Flood began collecting Charles Russell pieces in the 1940s before he turned to selling Western art out of his home in Idaho Falls in 1952. Flood opened Trailside Galleries in 1963 and would own the space until 1966. After selling the gallery, Flood continued to represent many well-known artists as seen through this collection, including Ernest Berke, Ace Powell, Olaf C. Seltzer. Flood was active in the Western art community until his death in 1993.

Trailside Galleries

In 1954, Flood named his art business Trailside Galleries. In 1963, a physical space for Trailside opened in Jackson, Wyoming as the first and only art gallery in town. Widely considered by local artists as the foundation of the Jackson art scene, the gallery helped build an artist community in the area. To build momentum for the opening of the gallery whilst also keeping its contents a secret, Flood hired a painter to do the awning to paint the logo out of order. In 1966 Flood transferred ownership of the gallery. Under new ownership Trailside would go on to open a second branch in Scottsdale, Arizona. Trailside Galleries continue to operate today.

Main Trail Galleries

Opened in 1969 by Richard J. Flood III, son of Richard J. Flood II, the original Main Trail Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona specialized in Western Americana art. A few years later a second branch of the gallery opened in Jackson, Wyoming. Main Trail Galleries was considered by many to be a major champion of the Western art scene in both Wyoming and Arizona by bridging the gap between the markets through the connection of his galleries. Richard J. Flood III closed the Main Trail Galleries in 1990, six years before his death in 1996.