![Boring History? Not the Way We Tell It](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/11398/592582/601fa947e0d5e/Boring-History-Not-the-Way-We-Tell-It.jpg)
''At the bottom.” Your heart is going to hit the bottom of your stomach in a second when I tell you that was the answer a grade school student gave to the question, “Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?”
Surveys have found that today’s students not only don’t know their history, but they also don’t care. They find it boring. Some think that Lewis and Clark are guys that Taylor Swift dated.
Those who love history—especially those devoted to writing about Western history— not only find that intolerable but dangerous. How can you be an informed citizen in a society that is based on “we the people” if you don’t know what “we” did? As someone once said, “Ignorance of one’s past leads to cultural chaos.”
This story is from the February - March 2021 edition of True West.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February - March 2021 edition of True West.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![From the Basin to the Plains](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/5dfn8eJi11720079052924/FROM-THE-BASIN-TO-THE-PLAINS.jpg)
From the Basin to the Plains
Discover Wyoming on a road trip to Cody, Casper and Cheyenne.
![COLLECTING AMERICAN OUTLAWS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/fsqS_fxNC1720078905439/COLLECTING-AMERICAN-OUTLAWS.jpg)
COLLECTING AMERICAN OUTLAWS
Wilbur Zink has preserved the Younger Gang's history in more ways than one.
![Spencer's West](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/_gsbUH-vM1720078662546/SPENCERS-WEST.jpg)
Spencer's West
After the Civil War, savvy frontiersmen chose the Spencer repeating carbine.
![Firearms With a Storied Past](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/WTZwGkPPG1720078507684/FIREARMS-WITH-A-STORIED-PAST.jpg)
Firearms With a Storied Past
Rock Island gavels off high profits from historic firearms.
![She Means Business!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/Md3C3ghar1720078441300/SHE-MEANS-BUSINESS.jpg)
She Means Business!
An energetic and ambitious woman has come to Lincoln, New Mexico, to restore the town's legendary Ellis Store.
![Where Did the Loot Go?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/JFYkwruoA1720078318806/WHERE-DID-THE-LOOT-GO.jpg)
Where Did the Loot Go?
Whatever happened to the $97,000 from the Reno Gang's last heist?
![Ride that Train!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/fSwXIHk2j1720077702685/RIDE-THAT-TRAIN.jpg)
Ride that Train!
HERITAGE RAILROADS KEEP THE OLD WEST ALIVE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
![Saddle Up with a Western](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/CuHNSIebs1720077108988/SADDLE-UP-WITH-A-WESTERN.jpg)
Saddle Up with a Western
Old West fiction and nonfiction are the perfect genres to fill your summer reading list.
![HERO OF HORSEPOWER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/lWmYBlKzF1720076777256/HERO-OF-HORSEPOWER.jpg)
HERO OF HORSEPOWER
LOS ANGELES LAWMAN WILLIAM HAMMEL TAMED ONE OF THE WEST'S WILDEST TOWNS WITH HARD WORK AND HORSELESS CARRIAGES.
![RENEGADES OF THE RAILS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11398/1722035/ml5ITwFz71720076503732/RENEGADES-OF-THE-RAILS.jpg)
RENEGADES OF THE RAILS
RAILROADS WERE OPEN SEASON FOR OKLAHOMA AND INDIAN TERRITORY OUTLAW GANGS.