Mean, Ornery, and Worth Saving: Doc Holliday
Bat Masterson despised Doc Holliday, yet risked his reputation, money, and influence to save him from the gallows, all because of one man: Wyatt Earp.
Tag Gunslingers & Outlaws
Get the truth behind the legends. From infamous train robbers to deadly duels, delve into the lives of the most notorious figures to ride through Western lore.
Bullets and Bloodshed: The Lincoln County War
Billy the Kid Was Just a Footnote
in the Lincoln County War.
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.
Wild Bill Hickok: The Man, the Myth, and the Muddled Name
Was his name really Bill? How did Wild Bill Hickok get his famous nickname—and was he really as wild as the legends say? From mistaken identity to poker-table death, here’s the real story of the man behind the myth… and why I used to confuse him with Buffalo Bill Cody.
Fact, Fiction, and Folklore: The Story of Joaquin Murrieta
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.
Belle Starr: Fact vs. Fiction in the Life of the Bandit Queen
Belle Starr’s legend as the “Bandit Queen” has long overshadowed the facts of her life. Born Myra Maybelle Shirley, she was a tomboy, a devoted mother, and a survivor navigating a turbulent world. Though tied to outlaws, she spent little time breaking the law herself. Her real story reveals a woman seeking peace amid chaos, not the fearless bandit dime novels made her out to be.
The Real Bat Masterson: Lawman, Gambler, and Legend of the Old West
Bat Masterson, famed Old West lawman and gambler, lived a life full of adventure, from shooting it out in Dodge City to writing sports columns in New York City. Though legends grew around him, his true story reveals a man of sharp wits, loyalty, and reinvention, who bridged the wild frontier and the urban East with equal flair.
Tiburcio Vasquez: The Real-Life Outlaw Who Inspired Zorro
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.
Calamity Jane: Fact, Fiction, and a Life on the Fringe of Legend
Was Calamity Jane cursed by bad luck—or just really good at causing it? The truth is wilder than the myth. From frontier hardship to dime-novel fame, here’s how Martha Jane Canary became one of the most colorful (and controversial) women in Wild West history.
From Killer to Folk Hero: Frank and Jesse James
Jesse James was no Robin Hood, yet history turned him into a legend. Explore the violent truth behind the James brothers, their Civil War roots, and the myths that still surround them today, including DNA tests and Hollywood's romantic portrayals. One writer shares her surprising personal connection to the infamous outlaws.