Discover the influential lives of Mexican Americans and Spanish settlers who played a pivotal role in the history and culture of the Old West.
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.
Enrique Esparza was just eight years old when the Mexican Army laid siege to the Alamo. One of the few survivors, his vivid recollections shaped our understanding of the famous battle. His first-hand memories offer a rare glimpse inside the Alamo and the sacrifice of its defenders—including his own father.
Joaquin Murrieta’s story straddles fact and folklore... was he a Mexican Robin Hood fighting injustice or simply a bandit? Born in Sonora, Mexico, Murrieta’s life became legend during the California Gold Rush. His tale inspired dime novels, the fictional Zorro, and even Batman, proving that whether real or myth, his legacy has captivated generations.
Tiburcio Vasquez, a 19th-century Californian outlaw known for his charm, poetry, and daring robberies, helped inspire the fictional hero Zorro. Notorious for his exploits and defended as a Mexican Robin Hood, Vasquez’s legacy lives on in stories, movies, and the famous Vasquez Rocks near Los Angeles, a key filming location for the Zorro TV series.
Doña María Gertrudis Barceló—better known as La Tules—built a gambling empire in 1800s Santa Fe. At a time when most women relied on husbands for wealth, she amassed her own fortune through sharp business sense and skill at the card table. From illegal Monte games to lavish real estate holdings, her story is a rare and inspiring portrait of independence and power in the Wild West. Discover the woman who dealt her own hand in history.
The Wild West of Yesteryear Column by Rachel Kovaciny I love to remember the Alamo. I love reading books or watching movies about it. I’ve seen four so far (my favorites are John Wayne’s The Alamo and Disney’s Davy Crockett, King of…