The American West | Cowboy State Daily

The American West is a place of cultural significance, dominant landscapes, and stories that transcend time. In this series learn about the people, the myths, legends, and reality of a place that is unique in American History.

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Because ranch work is a year-around occupation, A.D. Kruse was in the saddle throughout the year. He believed if it was too cold to do anything else, it was a good day to ride.

Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame: A. D. Kruse -- Life in the Saddle

Because ranch work is a year-around occupation, Wyoming Hall of Fame Cowboy 2025 inductee A. D. Kruse was in the saddle throughout the year. The Niobrara County rancher believed if it was too cold to do anything else, it was a good day to ride.

Candy MoultonNovember 16, 2025

Larry Bentley, inset right, was hired by Ashley Kent Carrithers, left, to trail 30 quarter horses for 450 miles alone across Wyoming and into Colorado. It was 1984, and Bentley took these horses over the Outlaw Trail, where the Hole in the Wall gang used to trail their stolen horses 80 years before.

450-Mile Solo Horse Drive In 1984 Was One Of Wyoming's Last Over Outlaw Trail

Larry Bentley was hired to trail 30 quarter horses for 450 miles alone across Wyoming and into Colorado. It was 1984, and Bentley took these horses over the Outlaw Trail, where the Hole in the Wall gang used to trail their stolen horses 80 years before.

Jackie DorothyNovember 15, 2025

Gracies, an eight-room high-class brothel, operated in Hudson, Wyoming, from 1906 to the 1960s. After being shut down, the building was abandoned and left to decay over the past nearly 60 years.

Wyoming History: Hudson’s Wild Legacy Of Brothels And Bootleggers

In the early 1900s until the 1960s, Hudson, Wyoming, was one of the liveliest towns in Fremont County, living up to a legacy of brothels and bootleggers. Even today, the town's website boasts that it had the most brothels in the region.

Jackie DorothyNovember 09, 2025

In 1894, Laban Hillberry driving his team of cow elk in Big Horn City, Wyoming, He had captured the elk in 1892 on the upper Gooseberry Creek.

Wyoming History: Big Horn Loved A Pair Of Tame Elk, Until A Teacher Got Stomped

Back in the 1890s, a pair of tame elk delighted the townspeople of Big Horn, Wyoming. They even taught the elk how to pull wagons for them. Then one of them stomped the local schoolteacher and the love affair ended.

Jackie DorothyOctober 05, 2025

The historic Fort Fred Steele site in Carbon County, Wyoming.

Wyoming History: That Time Old Jim Gregory Literally Talked A Man To Death

Fort Fred Steele in Carbon County was the setting for a legendary Old West Wyoming showdown. It was 1878 when Old Jim Gregory literally talked another man to death. When a doctor arrived, he looked at the body and said, “This is some of Gregory’s work."

Jackie DorothySeptember 14, 2025

About 1898, Elmer Chatfield with draft horses and work crew near Ten Sleep, Wyoming. He is the one standing and holding his daughter.

Wyoming History: Nobody Crossed ‘Chatty’ Chatfield, The Toughest Cowboy Pioneer

Against a backdrop of lawlessness and frontier legend, Elmer “Chatty” Chatfield may have been the toughest of them all. Even at birth he wasn’t fazed when a windstorm sent a tent pole onto his head.

Jackie DorothySeptember 07, 2025

Powering U.S. combat aircraft to success in World War II required 100-octane fuel. Two Wyoming refineries were part of the effort to ensure U.S. Army and Navy planes would have a ready supply. Now owned by HF Sinclair, the Frontier refinery in Cheyenne has grown over the decades and continues to be an important economic driver for the region.

Wyoming History: How Two Oil Refineries Fueled U.S. WWII Aviation Dominance

Powering U.S. combat aircraft to success in World War II required 100-octane fuel and Wyoming was a key part of it. “Get ready Hitler, here comes more hell from Wyoming!” a Frontier Refining Company ad proclaimed on July 27, 1943.

Dale KillingbeckSeptember 01, 2025

Sheridan Undersheriff Killed Sheridan trolly car 1912 postcard and veach 8 30 25 8 30 25

Wyoming History: Sheridan Undersheriff Killed By Friendly Fire In 1914 Shootout With Outlaw

In 1914, a popular Sheridan undersheriff was killed in a three-way shootout with a notorious outlaw fresh out of prison and bent on revenge. An autopsy, however, showed he was killed by friendly fire.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 30, 2025

Wyoming History: That Time Bandits Robbed ‘Humpy The Boar-Ape’

The lanky Wyoming cowboy known as Irish Tom by some, and Humpy the Boar Ape by others, was robbed of a payroll stash in the late 1800s. But his recollection of the holdup didn’t quite fit the actual real robbery.

Jackie DorothyAugust 24, 2025

In 1899, a Freemason murdered a coal miner in Glenrock, Wyoming. That fueled mob of 400 miners who went vigilante, marching on Douglas to break the Freemason out of jail and hang him.

Wyoming History: That Time When 400 Coal Miners Went Vigilante To Hang A Man

In 1899, a Freemason murdered a coal miner in Glenrock, Wyoming. That fueled a mob of 400 miners who went vigilante, marched down the streets of Douglas to break the Freemason out of jail and then hung him.

Jackie DorothyAugust 23, 2025

Surface buildings of the Carissa Mine at South Pass City in Wyoming.

Wyoming History: The Miners' Cure For Laziness At South Pass City

When a miner in 1868 tried to avoid working a claim in South Pass, his partners came up with a cure for his laziness. Getting him back to work involved a loaded rifle and the threat of Indian raids.

Jackie DorothyAugust 17, 2025

In 1894, Alfred Slick Nard, one of the survivors of the Horse Thief Wars, ambushed and tried to kill a sheepherder. Mike Bell found the spot where the attempted murder took place just outside of Worland, Wyoming. He said, "The old road continues along the ridge to my left - your right. The ambush site is above my hat on the flats.”

Wyoming History: The Nearly Forgotten 1892 Horse Wars To Exterminate Thieves

A brutal campaign against horse thieves unfolded across Montana, Idaho and Wyoming in 1892, nabbing notorious outlaws like Butch Cassidy and Jack Bliss. The Horse Wars were nearly forgotten to history until recently uncovered by an English historian.

Jackie DorothyAugust 10, 2025

Fueled by chokecherry wine and a reputation for headbutting his way into trouble, a Danish prospector’s murderous rampage along Badwater Creek in 1932 became an infamous across Wyoming.

Wyoming History: The Butting Dane’s Drunken, Murderous Badwater Creek Rampage

Fueled by chokecherry wine and a reputation for headbutting his way into trouble, a prospector with the nickname the "Butting Dane" went on a drunken, murderous rampage along Badwater Creek in 1932 that became infamous across Wyoming.

Jackie DorothyAugust 09, 2025

Wyoming History: Teddy Roosevelt Wanted Big Game In Yellowstone, But Settled For A Vole

During his famous 1903 two-week stay in Yellowstone National Park, President Teddy Roosevelt itched to hunt up some big game. Instead, he settled for scooping up a vole with his hat.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 03, 2025

Clearmont Jail Jon Roanhaus Public Domain 8 2 25

Wyoming History: That Time Skunks Got Mad In The Tiny 2-Cell Jail In ‘Bloody’ Clearmont

Now part of the town playground, the tiny two-cell Clearmont jail has a bizarre history in a town once described as being “bloody.” Built to hold drunks and booze runners, its most infamous story comes from the time skunks got in — then got mad.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 02, 2025

The cemetery below Roundtop Mountain was founded in the early 1900s, nearly 150 years after a battle is believed to have been fought on the summit of Roundtop.

Wyoming History: 250 Years Ago, Pivotal Battle Was Fought On Roundtop Mountain

Roundtop Mountain near Thermopolis, Wyoming, is now a popular hiking destination, but it’s also where the Shoshone are said to have gotten their first horses. That came from a pivotal battle fought there against settlers about 250 years ago.

Jackie DorothyJuly 27, 2025

Cowboys on the range. Depicts many men sitting in front of a cook's tent in the late 1800s.

Wyoming History: Cowboys Were Tough, Determined And Could Gossip Up A Storm

Surviving in the remote settlements of the Wyoming Territory in the late 1880s took grit, determination and getting into everyone’s business. Cowboys were tough, and also could gossip up a storm to combat loneliness and hard living.

Jackie DorothyJuly 26, 2025

Jacob Snyder, above, was a close friend of Butch Cassidy, below, and, like Cassidy, claimed he was not an outlaw, but had been framed as a thief by a Wyoming ranch foreman with a grudge. History says maybe, maybe not. They were both inmates at the territorial prison in Laramie at the same time.

Wyoming History: That Time Buddies Butch Cassidy And Jacob Snyder Were Framed

Jacob Snyder was a close friend of Butch Cassidy and, like Cassidy, claimed he was not an outlaw, but had been framed as a thief by a Wyoming ranch foreman with a grudge. History says maybe, maybe not.

Jackie DorothyJuly 20, 2025

Paul Knowles shows a recently discovered photo of Jim Douglas, left, founder of Dixon, Wyoming, riding with famous mountain man Jim Baker.

Wyoming History: New Photos Of Legendary Mountain Man Jim Baker Discovered

In what Western historians call an “extremely exciting” discovery, a trunk containing new photographs of the famous mountain man Jim Baker has been found. It also holds letters written to a lawman by Wild Bunch informants.

Renée JeanJuly 20, 2025

Wyoming pioneering game warden Albert Nelson, left, once set the broken leg of famed wildlife artist Carl Rungius, right. The thankful painter gave Nelson a painting that was later saved from the devastating 1927 Kelly Flood.

Wyoming History: Legendary Artist Gave Wyoming's First Game Warden Painting For Setting Broken Leg

Wyoming pioneering game warden Albert Nelson once set the broken leg of legendary wildlife artist Carl Rungius. The thankful artist gave Nelson a rare original painting that was later saved from the devastating 1927 Kelly Flood.

Dale KillingbeckJuly 13, 2025

Wyoming sheep baron J.B. Okie, bottom, was throwing an opulent high-society party when it was crashed by Sheriff Frank K. Webb, above, and his prisoner. That prisoner was Otto Chenoweth, an outlaw horse thief who escaped and charmed the ladies as a dashing gentleman.

Wyoming History: Otto Chenoweth, The Gentleman Outlaw Of Lost Cabin

Sheep baron J.B. Okie was throwing a high-society party at his opulent mansion in Lost Cabin, Wyoming, when it was crashed by the sheriff and his prisoner. That prisoner was Otto Chenoweth, an outlaw horse thief who escaped and charmed the ladies as a dashing gentleman.

Jackie DorothyJuly 06, 2025

Wyoming History: Mountain Man Joe Meek Survived Bears And Blackfeet Raids

When an 18-year-old Joe Meek arrived in the wilderness of Wyoming in 1829, the greenhorn had to toughen up fast to survive bears and hostile tribes. When he fell asleep on guard duty, he also survived the wrath of Capt. William Sublette.

Jackie DorothyJuly 05, 2025

Twin sisters Rula Bullock and Effie Manley were 21 months old when they were taken captive by a killer in their home in March 1955.

Wyoming History: Taken Hostage With Twins By Murderer Changed Green River Woman Forever

It’s been 70 years since Charles Billings, an imposter Pinedale ranch hand, gunned down two men and took a Green River woman and her infant twin daughters hostage. The incident traumatized the woman for the rest of her life, her daughters say.

Dale KillingbeckJune 29, 2025

In 1887, the wild man of Chugwater, dubbed Bud by the locals, roamed around Chugwater Valley, as it was known then, and alluded capture by cowboys and circus men.

Wyoming History: Chugwater Wild Man Was 7-12 Feet Tall And Faster Than A Horse

Newspapers reported the Wild Man of Chugwater was between 7 and 12 feet tall, covered in dark hair and could run faster than any horse. He even eluded a hunt in 1887 by a circus owner who wanted to put him in a cage for his freak show.

Jackie DorothyJune 28, 2025