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How did people stay cool in the heat of the Old West?

by | Oct 24, 2009 | Inside History

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How did people stay cool in the heat of the the Old West? Justin Loughman Rancho Santa Margarita, California Before air conditioning and backyard swimming pools, Mexicans and Indians taught settlers to build homes with cool, shady breezeways. At night they soaked their bed sheets in water and went to sleep. Many slept outside to take advantage of the wind. During the day, Westerners often took a nice, refreshing dip in irrigation ditches or canals. And they had access to ice—ice pl


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