I’m a fan of AMC’s Hell on Wheels. Is the route constructed from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Sacramento, California, still in use today? Mark Wilson...
Were Cowboys Superstitious?
Were cowboys superstitious? Bill Dunn High River, Alberta, Canada Rodeo cowboys believed in dozens of superstitions. Some of them include: Never eat...
How Fast Could a Stagecoach Travel?
How fast could a stagecoach travel? Mitchell McClure Rayville, Louisiana The speed of stagecoach travel during the Old West era depended on whether...
What Led to the O.K. Corral Gunfight in Tombstone, Arizona Territory?
What led to the O.K. Corral gunfight in Tombstone, Arizona Territory? Axel Doling Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany The lead-up is pretty...
Why Do Westerns Feature Guns That Didn’t Exist at the Time Period?
Why do Westerns feature guns that didn’t exist at the time period? Richard Klingenberger Rochester, New York Movies sometimes “hot rod” firearms or...
What Happened to the Bodies of Those Killed at the Alamo?
What happened to the bodies of those killed at the Alamo? Steve Frost Petersburg, Virginia San Antonio Alcalde Francisco Antonio Ruiz gave the most...
During the Great Depression, Did People Eat Tumbleweed Soup?
During the Great Depression, did people eat tumbleweed soup? -Brian LaMoure of Helena, Montana Yes. Tumbleweed, or Russian thistle, is edible raw or...
Why Did Stage Drivers Sit on the Right Side?
Why did stage drivers sit on the right side? -Kevin Baldwin of Frankenmuth, Michigan Buggy drivers sat on the right because most were right handed...
Did Old Westerners Generally Load only Five out of the Six Chambers?
Did Old Westerners generally load only five out of the six chambers? -Dan Clutter of Denison, Iowa Yes, letting the hammer rest on an empty chamber...
Which Cards was “Wild Bill” Hickok Holding when He was Murdered?
Which cards was “Wild Bill” Hickok holding when he was murdered? -Michael Weirens of Sartell, Minnesota Legend says James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok...
Do Westerns Accurately Show how Horses are Saddle Broken?
Do Westerns accurately show how horses are saddle broken? -Carl Justice Bluefield, West Virginia I heard an old cowboy say, “The trick to breaking a...
Ask the Marshall
Robert Garcia Phoenix, Arizona True. The blood ritual has been around for centuries in the Americas, Europe and Asia. It comes in many forms, but...