A saloon might also be known as a "watering trough, bughouse, shebang, cantina, grogshop, and gin mill.” The first saloon was established at Brown's...
Saloons
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True West Blog
Sam Walker’s Last Battle
Their reputation of the mounted Texans was so great, Walker's Rangers, along with those of fellow-Texans, Colonel Jack Hays and Captain John S....
Nobody Believed Him!
A James Gang member couldn’t turn himself in. Jim Cummins was not the most enthusiastic member of the James-Younger Gang. He served with the boys...
From Outlaw to Horseman
Dick Liddil found a new calling at the race track. Dick Liddil joined the James Gang in 1879, near the end of its run. He eventually was arrested,...
A Detour From the Outlaw Trail
Frank James’ brief retirement brought peace and contentment. For Frank James, the years just after the James-Younger Gang’s disastrous raid on...
The 1847 Walker Colt
Despite the popularity of the Colt revolver among Texans, Colt's company failed in 1842. Realizing the revolver needed more durability for use on...
Nancy Kelsey: The First Woman to Cross the Sierra 1841
The year was 1841 and the Kelsey clan, often on the move, once again had itching feet. A letter from a Dr. Marsh (Dr. John Marsh) in California...
Rangers and Ranger Wannabes
Rangers have always occupied a special place in American history. During the Seven Years War or French and Indian War. In 1755 Captain Robert Rogers...
Picking the Wrong Horse
Bill Tilghman lost the job of his dreams by backing the wrong candidate Bill Tilghman may have been a great lawman, but as a politician he left much...
Lawman and the Land Rush
Bill Tilghman made his mark with the boomers and sooners. Bill Tilghman is famed as a lawman of the Oklahoma and Indian territories. But he was also...
A Solemn Warning
Citizens of an all-black town told land rushers to stay away. Around 1890, Edward McCabe helped found the all-black town of Langston, about 10 miles...
Bounties
How was reward money collected in the Old West? Was it paid out by local law enforcement, banks, the court system, or did it come from some other...