John B. Stetson: The Hat That Shaped the West
Think the cowboy hat was born on the open range? Think again. The Stetson’s story begins with a sick young hatter, a Colorado gold rush, a beaver pelt… and a legendary piece of American history.
Category The Wild West of Yesteryear
Explore the myths, legends, and untold stories of the American frontier in The Wild West of Yesteryear column by author and blogger Rachel Kovaciny. From iconic lawmen and notorious outlaws to forgotten pioneers, frontier women, and cultural curiosities, this tag dives deep into the people, places, inventions, and everyday life that shaped the Old West. Perfect for history lovers, writers, educators, and Western enthusiasts alike.
The Remarkable Life of Louis L’Amour: America’s Frontier Storyteller
Louis L’Amour lived the adventures he wrote about. From prizefighting to seafaring to bestselling novelist, his real life was as thrilling as his Western tales.
A School in Her Living Room: The Legacy of Elizabeth Thorn Scott Flood
In 1854, Elizabeth Thorn Scott Flood opened her Sacramento home to Black children denied an education—and changed history. From humble beginnings, her schools grew into the foundation of equal education in California, ensuring that all children, regardless of race, could learn and thrive.
Bullets and Bloodshed: The Lincoln County War
Billy the Kid Was Just a Footnote
in the Lincoln County War.
From Needles to Notebooks: The Life of Mollie Dorsey Sanford
Mollie Dorsey Sanford began journaling as a teen and ended up leaving behind one of the most vivid accounts of pioneer life in the West. From homesteading in Nebraska to surviving gold rush towns in Colorado, Mollie’s story shines with wit, courage, and heart. Discover the woman behind the diary and the frontier life she recorded.
A Broken Heart & a Brave Journey: The Life of Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph’s haunting words—“I will fight no more forever”—echo through American history. But what led the Nez Perce leader to say them? In 1877, after a 1,200-mile journey toward freedom, he surrendered just 40 miles from the Canadian border. This post explores the events behind his famous speech, the choices he faced, and why his legacy of courage, wisdom, and heartbreak still moves us today.
Did They Really Drink Sarsaparilla?
Did they really drink this in the old west?
Pearl Hart: The Bandit Queen of the Old West
Pearl Hart, once a well-educated young woman from Ontario, shocked the Old West by becoming a notorious stagecoach robber and the famed "Bandit Queen." Her daring exploits, brushes with the law, and stint in Yuma Territorial Prison made her a legend. Discover the fascinating true story behind one of the West’s most unforgettable female outlaws.
From Spanish Aristocrat to Californian Patriot: The Story of Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was a towering figure in early California history — a military leader, politician, and landowner who navigated Spanish, Mexican, and American rule. From founding the city of Sonoma to shaping California’s statehood, Vallejo’s life embodied the complex loyalties and turbulent transformations of 19th-century California.
Bill Pickett: The Legendary Cowboy Who Invented Bulldogging
Bill Pickett, the Black cowboy who invented “bulldogging” cattle, became a rodeo superstar in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Touring internationally and starring in early cowboy films, Pickett broke barriers with skill and charm. Though he died from a horse accident in 1932, his legacy lives on in rodeo history and halls of fame.