Sleek scabbards housed frontiersmen’s six-guns from the days of the California Gold Rush through the closing of the frontier. For centuries, pistol...
The First Western Holster
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Art, Guns and Culture
Preservation: History Up in Smoke
History Up in Smoke Folks in southern California are still assessing all the damage caused by wildfires last fall. Fires destroyed about 2,200...
Top 10 Things to Do in El Paso
The editors thought I was joking when I pitched this idea. “Ten things to do in El Paso? What’s No. 1? Leave?” Actually, that’s No. 5, but I’m...
True West’s Best of the West 2008 Winners
Here are the winners of our "2008 Best of the West." Sit back and see if your pick made the list. Best Living Bootmaker Dave Little Ask today’s top...
Can’t Kick the Boot Addiction
Hello, my name’s Johnny (yes, Johnny; it’s on my birth certificate), and I’m an addict. Not booze, gambling or anything illegal. But it is a serious...
Preservation: Remember the Alamo!
The Alamo is the most famous building in Texas. The sacrifice of about 200 defenders in March 1836 marks the place as a monument to freedom and...
A Song of Praise for a Forgotten Folklore Collector
This book is an offering of the Indians, and I am only the recorder. Or so Natalie Curtis claimed in her groundbreaking work, The Indian’s Book,...
John Wayne’s Silver Screen Shootin’ Irons
In True Grit, Wayne’s character Rooster Cogburn told defense attorney Mr. Goudy “a gun that’s unloaded and cocked ain’t good for nothin’,” yet...
Back to the Future
Texas History Movies—the name is not entirely accurate. Texas history? Yes. Movies? Nope, they’re comic books. These comics were once a major...
True Comics
Will Rogers, born in the Indian Territory in 1879, was a true American icon. As stage star, humorist, national newspaper columnist and radio and...
Preservation:Earp—All in the Family
Earp—All in the Family Bob and Melba Matson are brave, courageous and bold. In 1986, they bought a house in Monmouth, Illinois—but not just any...
Off the Reservation, the Range, the Ranch and the Regular
The first place to look for Western art has always been St. Petersburg, Florida. Falling to the ground with so many palm fronds and coconuts are the...