The Original Boot Hill

The Original Boot Hill

In the streets of a Kansas prairie town on an evening in mid-1872, a familiar pattern unfolded-a crowd gathered, somebody fired a gun and somebody responded in kind. History is not clear on what happened. A tall black man called Tex (or Black Jack, or both) was...
Choose the Right Felt Hat

Choose the Right Felt Hat

You can often tell a lot about a person by his or her choice of headwear, and few hats make louder statements than cowboy hats. You might wear a hat for protection from the sun or the cold. Or your hat might just be a fashion statement. But a hat is the most...
Top 10 True Western Towns of 2010

Top 10 True Western Towns of 2010

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...
All Roads Lead to Chaco Canyon

All Roads Lead to Chaco Canyon

“This is the best place on the planet. If you don’t come back, there’s something wrong with you.” These words spoken by G.B. Cornucopia, a 20-year veteran U.S. Park Ranger, echo in my head as I gaze down into New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon. Desert winds tugging at my...
Bonanza Classic Revived

Bonanza Classic Revived

Bonanza is so much a part of our cultural history and our TV past that its familiarity disguises the fact that the show is genuinely odd. Of all the gun-toting lawman and loner shows that ate up the finite broadcast space of TV’s Golden Age, Bonanza drew upon standard...