How was life in territory prisons? Jim Spell Sonora, California Life in territory prisons was pretty tough, overall. For example, in Arizona...
How Was Life in Territory Prisons?
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Departments
Mining the Optics
Four-year-old Albert Michelson reached the California Gold Rush town of Murphy’s Camp in 1856, after a voyage that took him from his native Prussia...
Who Was the Best Housekeeper in the West?
Competition between madams was especially lively way out in the west Texas town of El Paso where Redheaded Etta “Grasshopper” Clark and “Big Alice”...
Was Bat Masterson Run Out of Denver?
Was Bat Masterson run out of Denver? Daniel E. Scuiry Berkeley, California Bat Masterson biographer Robert DeArment says, “Yes.” In May 1902,...
Were Archery Contests Held Out West?
Were archery contests held out West? Jennifer Malewski Kansas City, Missouri Archery was practiced almost entirely by American Indians in the...
Cheering Our Culinary Journey
I reflect on my years writing Frontier Fare, I’m reminded of the wonderful historical and literary food journeys I’ve taken. This column has...
What is 3-7-77, Associated with the Montana Vigilantes?
What is 3-7-77, associated with the Montana Vigilantes? Dave Quinn Carson City, Nevada This has long been a Western historical puzzle. The Montana...
An Angel and the Train Man
Along with True West’s 65th birthday, this column celebrates a landmark too—my 10th anniversary of exploring the people and groups who are saving...
What Did the Actors Drink When They were Drinking “Beer” on Gunsmoke?
What did the actors drink when they were drinking “beer” on Gunsmoke? Dave Rapoza Olathe, Kansas The Gunsmoke actors actually drank beer, but the...
The Size of an Assignment
In this 65th anniversary year for True West, on assignment to report my favorite Investigating History columns, I wrack my brain and only two come...
What’s the Story Behind the Naming of Show Low, Arizona?
What’s the story behind the naming of Show Low, Arizona? Michael Westlund, Clarkdale, Arizona Anthony Cooley, the former president of the...
Who played Johnny Ringo in Tombstone? And do you think the real Ringo took his own life?
Who played Johnny Ringo in Tombstone? And do you think the real Ringo took his own life? Joyce Bell Marshall — La Crosse, Wisconsin Michael Biehn...