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.

Contributors

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