In the annals of North American history, the fabled lore of the horse and the mountain man are two of the most chronicled and beloved. From...
Legends of the West
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western history
The West
Never in the history of the world has there been a place like the American West. The pristine uncharted land, its natural beauty, blessed with...
Kit Carson and the Conquest of California
The true story of how the trailblazer became the spearpoint of empire All Images Courtesy True West Archives Unless Otherwise Noted Kit Carson...
A Fiery Fight
A lover’s quarrel brings down Cripple Creek. April 25, 1896. Dance hall girl Jennie Larue and her boyfriend Otto Floto get into a fight in Cripple...
The Great Train Robbery
The “Great Train Robbery” was the first motion picture with a story. It was written, produced, directed and photographed by Edwin S. Porter, a...
History of the Toothbrush
When was the toothbrush invented? Tools to clean teeth have been around since prehistoric times. Folks used twigs, bones, feathers and even...
An In-Depth Look at the Telegraph System in the Old West
A True West Reader asks, “How did the telegraph system work in the Old West? I read things such as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone sending a telegraph to...
Imagining the West
Western art historian Larry Len Peterson has reached new heights in The American West Imagined: Gems from the Coeur d’Alene Art Auction (The Coeur...
How the West was Won Sponsored by Bonhams
"This is not just a gun — it is the history of America." -Jim Earle The Early West: The Collection of Jim and Theresa Earle 27 Aug 2021 | Los...
Western Museums Reopen with Hope and Optimism
Western Museums Reopen with Hope and Optimism By Candy Moulton For those of us who love visiting museums to see new exhibitions, new additions to...
Overland Trails: Fur Trappers to Pony Express Riders
ENJOY THE ADVENTURE AND HISTORICAL SITES BETWEEN ST. LOUIS AND FORT LARAMIE. When we think and write about the over- land trails, we usually...
The View Ahead
In the last quarter of the year, publishers are busily touting end-of-the year books and next year’s early releases. From advance copies I have received, I believe fans of Western history and fiction will be busy for the next few months buying and reading a bounty of offerings from publishers, small and large.