Wild Bill’s Disease of Passion?

Wild Bill’s Disease of Passion?

In his 1986 book Deadwood, Pete Dexter depicted Wild Bill Hickok as suffering from some form of venereal disease (VD) and more so from the remedies of the day. The historical accuracy of Bill’s condition was probably fictional. Dexter’s depiction of Bill’s misery,...
Was He a Hero?

Was He a Hero?

How did Buffalo Bill Cody survive the ravages of time? He has a prestigious historical center in Cody, Wyoming, named in his honor and is the theme of an entire museum in that center. He’s still the subject of books like Larry McMurtry’s 2005 biography about the...
Bookin’ It

Bookin’ It

Granville Stuart was a lot of things—merchant, miner, rancher, diplomat, vigilante—and an avid reader. His Montana cabin was filled with books covering just about any topic you can think of, and he would travel far and wide to get them, as shown in his journal excerpt...
Low Slung Guns

Low Slung Guns

A popular misconception among some Old West re-enactors and wardrobe experts is that everyone wore their gun-belts high on their waists and that the low slung gun is an invention of Hollywood. It is true that most frontier fighters did not walk around wearing...
Top 10 True Western Towns of 2008

Top 10 True Western Towns of 2008

Given to towns that have made an important contribution to preserving their pasts. We hope this award will not only encourage federal, state and local governments to continue funding such efforts, but also inspire Western towns to reward its citizens and visitors...