Contributors

The American West: Bill Carlisle – The Lone Bandit Strikes Again (Part 2)
PART 2: Bill Carlisle, who had brazenly robbed Union Pacific Trains in 1916, and escaped through his own elusive efforts – and with some aid provided by ranchers – would hide in plain sight for several weeks. But his crime spree wasn’t over.
Terry A. Del BeneFebruary 11, 2025

The American West: Bill Carlisle – Wyoming’s Most Affable Train Robber
Bill Carlisle managed four solo robberies (three in a few months) in his extensive life of crime without injuring anyone. The train robberies promoted him from a common criminal to a newsworthy commodity.
Terry A. Del BeneFebruary 11, 2025

The American West: Wild Bill Hickok Invents the Old West Showdown
The walk-down, faceoff, quickdraw, showdown gunfight in the street has become an iconic image of the Old West. As far as history can tell us, the whole idea started with one of the Old West’s most famous gunfighters — Wild Bill Hickok.
R.B. MillerFebruary 09, 2025

The American West: American David Meriwether Taken Prisoner And Marched To Santa Fe
Anxious to make a trip to New Mexico to investigate stories of abundant gold there, David Meriwether headed West only to be captured by Spanish soldiers and marched to Santa Fe in 1820. When freed, he promised never to return—but he broke the promise thirty years later.
James A. CrutchfieldFebruary 09, 2025

The American West: Tip Vincent And The 1878 Elk Mountain Murders
Henry H. “Tip” Vincent, a detective and tracker for the Union Pacific Railroad, carried a Sharps rifle loaned to him by Otto Franc as he pursued George Parott and a group of train robbers to the west side of Elk Mountain, where he was gunned down and the Sharps was stolen.
Mark E. MillerFebruary 07, 2025

The American West: Josiah Gregg - Documentarian of the Santa Fe Trail
Josiah Gregg, through the magic of the written word, brought the romance and mystery of the Santa Fe Trail to anyone who would take the time to read his wonderful book.
James A. CrutchfieldFebruary 07, 2025

The American West: Charles Dickens Visits America’s Plains
In the 19th Century, the American West had a brisk tourism industry, which grew as the convenience of travel provided by coach service, railroads, and boats. Among the early travelers was Charles Dickens, England’s most accomplished author.
Terry A. Del BeneFebruary 06, 2025

The American West: Like A Soldier -- Col. William Travis Fulfills Pledge Made At Alamo
William Barret Travis wrote to “The people of Texas and all Americans in the world,” on February 24, 1836, the second day of the siege at the Alamo, that he would “die like a soldier who never forgets what is due his own honor & that of his country.”
William GronemanFebruary 04, 2025

The American West: Massacre of Shoshones at Bear River
The massacre of Shoshones at Bear River in southeastern Idaho is the highest number of Indians killed by Army troops in the entire history of the Old West. Despite this, it is unchronicled in any major way in history even today.
R.B. MillerFebruary 03, 2025

The American West: Western Farmers Used Wind For Power Long Before Green Energy
For hundreds of years in America, the most important application of windmills was to provide power to pump for water and it became an essential of life on the Western plains and prairies.
Linda WommackFebruary 02, 2025

The American West: Mountain Man Joe Meek Arrived In Wyoming in 1829 As Greenhorn Teenager
The roar of the grizzly, war cries of the Blackfeet, and the lonesome song of the wind ushered 18-year-old Joe Meek to a world of the mountain men. Death was a constant companion and if you weren’t at the Rendezvous, it was assumed you had met the grim reaper along the way either by beast, enemy, or harsh weather.
Jackie DorothyFebruary 01, 2025

The American West: Wyoming Hereford Bulls Top Denver Stock Show In 1916
At the January 1916 Denver Stock Show, three registered Hereford bulls bred, reared, and shown by L. G. Davis of Saratoga not only took championship honors, but also brought record prices. All the bulls were sired by the Davis Ranch herd bull Beau Carlos II.
Dick PerueJanuary 26, 2025