Contributors
The American West: Old Ephraim
A loud ruckus awakened Frank Clark from a sound sleep. Still in his in his underwear, Frank grabbed his rifle, and ran to investigate. He found a legendary grizzly bear named Old Ephraim, enraged and fighting to free himself from a 23-pound bear trap.
R.B. MillerApril 13, 2025
The American West: An Early California-Oregon Cattle Drive
Ewing Young and his men drove a herd of cattle into the Willamette Valley in 1837, providing a basis for the dairy and beef industries in Oregon. This cattle drive was an undertaking that would not occur on such a vast scale again until the late 1860s.
James A. CrutchfieldApril 12, 2025
The American West: Val Kilmer's "Tombstone"
Despite performances as Tom Cruise’s rival in “Top Gun,” Jim Morrison in “The Doors” and Bruce Wayne/Batman in “Batman Forever” (1995), Val Kilmer is probably best remembered as the witty, drunken, charming but deadly Doc Holliday in “Tombstone.”
Johnny D. BoggsApril 11, 2025
The American West: Surveying the Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail is one of the most important thoroughfares in the history of the United States. In its relatively short lifetime as a highway of commerce, it linked the raw, brazen youth of American industry to the centuries-old marketplaces of New Mexico.
James A. CrutchfieldApril 07, 2025
The American West: Colorado Cowpoke Sets Off the Greatest Gold Rush in History
On a cool, crisp autumn day in 1890, there was no doubt in Bob Womack’s mind that he had uncovered a rich vein of gold. After spending considerable time examining the half-inch discolorized vein in the rock surface, Bob decided to use dynamite in an effort to break loose the ore.
Linda WommackApril 06, 2025
The American West: Thomas “Broken Hand” Fitzpatrick Helps Open The West
Solid, dependable, fearless, and trusted by Indians and whites alike, Thomas Fitzpatrick made a wide circle in his travels in the West from 1823 until his death in 1854, leading fur brigades, pioneers, and explorers, and brokering deals with tribal leaders.
Candy MoultonApril 05, 2025
The American West: Black Hills Entrepreneur Started Off Poor And Shoeless
Frederick Taft Evans Sr., at 6-foot-4 and barrel-chested, was more than just physically big. The entrepreneur also had big ideas for the development of Hot Springs, Dakota Territory. But in the fall of 1856, Evans he was broke and barefoot, and chopping wood for $1 per cord.
Peggy SandersApril 03, 2025
The American West: When The Feds Unleashed Their Camels
In 1855, Congress, authorized “the importation of camels and dromedaries to be used for military purposes” and had earmarked $30,000 for the experiment. The Middle Eastern animals arrived at Matagorda Bay, while many stood in awe.
James A. CrutchfieldApril 03, 2025
The American West: The Mormon Lad Who Died Stealing A Horse
Lot Huntington was on the run after stealing $800 from an Overland Mail strongbox at Townsend’s Stable in Salt Lake City, Utah, when he stole a horse that put a feared deputy U.S. Marshal on his trail and got him killed.
R.B. MillerApril 02, 2025
The American West: The Woman Whose Handcart Mission Went Very Wrong
Elizabeth Whittear Sermon in 1856 persuaded her family to join a handcart company traveling to Utah. They left in August, which was a disaster. Her husband died and her children lost some of their toes.
Candy MoultonMarch 31, 2025
The American West: Private Businessmen, Not The Government, First Launched Denver Mint
When Colorado’s gold miners filled their pockets with nuggets, it became evident they needed a better way to carry their wealth – the answer was the region’s first mint. Based in Denver, it got its start with private, not government owners.
James A. CrutchfieldMarch 30, 2025
The American West: The Great Plains Inspired Mari Sandoz and Willa Cather
Two of the West’s best-known writers, Mari Sandoz and Willa Cather, found inspiration in the landscapes of Nebraska. In both cases the literature and the landscape endure. Cather called the harsh land "the happiness and the curse of my life."
Candy MoultonMarch 29, 2025