An Oklahoma Museum Guard Becomes an Unlikely New Social Media Star

Life seemed pretty normal for Tim as head of security at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum—until the museum closed to the public to helped prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Then Tim got an additional job: managing the museum’s social media accounts. He took up his new duties enthusiastically but wasn’t shy about admitting that he was a newbie to the social arena.

“I’m new to social media but excited to share what I am told is called “content” on all of The Cowboy’s what I am told are “platforms” including the Twitter, the Facebook and the Instagram,” Tim wrote in his first Instagram post. “My team and I will also continue to protect and monitor the museum and grounds. Thanks, Tim We are required to smile in our official photos. Send.”

His posts over the last week have endeared him to readers at a time when it can be hard to  find bright spots among coronavirus news stories.

Tim takes his followers around the museum, pointing out highlights like John Wayne’s boots, eyepatch and hat, and Dorothea Lange’s photographs. He’s learning social media lingo along the way. “Hashtag John Wayne,” he writes in one post. “Lucas, my grandson, told me to use hashtags.”

In a later post, he corrects himself—somewhat. “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.”

He also offers uplifting thoughts. One post spotlights a 1937 Dorothea Lange photo of people lined up for employment benefits. “It was a tough time then. And it looks like it’s going to be a tough time now,” Tim writes. “But we get through these times together, don’t we? We did it before. We’ll do it now. Thanks, Tim”

“I just came here to say Tim is the best thing on the Internet this week,” @bandeliermusic wrote on Instagram.

“Tim, you are crushing it! 🔥” writes @kdeedles.

Tim may be catching on that his followers enjoy his social media gaffes. “Some nice person on here suggested I try posting a Tick Tock. Enjoy!” he wrote, with a photo of a Roy Rogers Alarm Clock (circa 1951).

Regardless, his fans hope he continues to manage the accounts. Thousands of new followers are joining along to see Tim’s posts.

As @diyadventurer put it, “#hashtagtimsavestheday.”