Reading the pulp westerns one would conclude that the Colt revolver was the only pistol used in the Old West. Remington built a fine six-shooter and...
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Can you Legally Hang a Horse Thief?
That is a very good question because it brings up an important point. Contrary to popular myth, stealing a horse has never been a capital offense...
Running the Con in Denver
The Blonger brothers even outdid Soapy Smith. Lou Blonger and his brother Sam had a lot of experience in running Old West saloons, dancehalls and...
Wyatt Earp: Is He Still a Hero?
Historians and writers share their perspectives on the West’s most famous lawman. In honor of the 140th anniversary of the gunfight near the O.K....
What Event Marked the End of the Old West?
What event marked the end of the Old West? That's hard to say precisely because the Old West covered hundreds of square miles....
Blackhawk Museum Spirit of the Old West
Explore the history and way of life in the American frontier. The Spirit of the Old West Gallery weaves the story of the American West,...
The Man with the Plan Bennett Young set the standard for bank robberies.
Lt. Bennett Young drew the blueprint for Old West bank robberies—far from the West. In October 1864, he and 20 Confederate soldiers snuck into St....
The Town Tamer James Dodson kept a lid on Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona—unlike so many other Old West towns—was pretty peaceful during the frontier period. Much of the credit goes to James Dodson, who...
Motorized Posses, Deadly Dry-gulchers And Indian Tobacco
Who was the first sheriff to pursue outlaws in a motorized vehicle? Why’d the women of the Donner Party fare better than the men? And more!
Shooting Back
Our readers remind us of the variables and vagaries of historic truths, “well-established” facts, headlines and historical photographs.
Mining Camp Law A white man from Tennessee arrived in the California gold camps with 3 slaves
A white man from Tennessee arrived in the California gold camps with 3 slaves. He put them to work while he rested in town. This didn’t set well...
An Old Lawdog On The Hunt Wyatt Earp picked up a gun again at age 62.
In October 1910, Old West lawman Wyatt Earp—at age 62—almost got into one more gunfight. Earp was asked to head up a special posse to protect...