"Chisum! John Chisum! Weary. Saddle worn.” Sorry. Every time I think of John Simpson Chisum, I think of the 1970 John Wayne movie Chisum, and Andrew...
The Great McGinty
Billy McGinty was an unlikely hero. Only five feet, two inches tall, the sawed off bronc buster from Oklahoma Territory couldn’t march in step and...
Branded But Unbroken
The image of strong women pioneers and trailblazers of yesteryear has grown hazy in the decades since the mass migration west. For many, the type of...
Criminal Intentions
The last Old West-style train robbery in Texas was strange. It started off as a joke and ended up with a trip to mom’s house. In his mid-20s, Willis...
Was abolitionist John Brown a good guy or bad guy?
Was abolitionist John Brown a good guy or bad guy? James T. Lyddy Park City, Utah Folks have asked that question for more than 150 years, and...
What was the preferred mode of Old West travel—stagecoach or train?
What was the preferred mode of Old West travel—stagecoach or train? Stace Webb Wenatchee, Washington Folks took a train whenever they could, as it...
Did cowboys actually use saddlebags?
Did cowboys actually use saddlebags? Geneva Enright Chandler, Arizona Cowboys usually disdained saddlebags or other accessories, such as water bags...
What is Taos Lightning?
What is Taos Lightning? Mike Scott Saugus, Massachusetts Taos Lightning was a particularly spicy brand of whiskey concocted by mountain man Peg-Leg...
What can you tell me about Virgil Earp’s time in Colton, California?
What can you tell me about Virgil Earp’s time in Colton, California? Joe Amason Delano, California While recuperating from wounds that had shattered...
Jim Rodgers
Arizona and Western history are synonymous since Arizona was basically the last frontier. The state’s history is rich in Western lore—rich mineral...
The Little Big Man Hoax?
In 1992, American Heritage magazine asked historians, artists and novelists to name their favorite American historical novel. The overwhelming...
December Events 2014
A Western roundup of events where you can experience the Old West! ART SHOW The West Select Phoenix, AZ, Closes Dec. 28: Western art sale and...