Jesse James: The Birth of a Killer

Born into the Missouri-Kansas border war over slavery, teenaged Jesse James was destined to live a violent life.

“I Think I Can, I Think I Can” The folks of Ely, Nevada, don't understand the word “No.”

The Nevada Railroad Foundation’s dedicated crews are in the process of restoring the 1917 Baldwin 2-8-0 Locomotive No. 81 so it can be put back in service as one of two primary steam engines to pull the historic rolling stock of the popular Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, Nevada.

Restore the Alamo!

Work gets underway on reclaiming the mission of 1836.

Rebel Raider to Rebel Hero

How Jesse James became one of Hollywood’s favorite outlaws.

Bands of Brothers

Forty years after the release of The Long Riders, the actor-writer-producers, cast members and legendary director Walter Hill reflect on the making of a Western classic.

BLACK HILLS GOLD

Explore South Dakota’s sacred mountains and discover a bonanza of historic mining towns.

And Die like a Soldier

WILLIAM BARRET TRAVIS’S DEATH AT THE ALAMO

Ride The Devil's Herd

HOW THE COWBOYS RULED TOMBSTONE BEFORE WYATT EARP

The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp

GLORIFIED, FICTIONALIZED AND HOTLY DEBATED, THE ENIGMATIC LAWMAN’S LIFE FROM ANTEBELLUM ILLINOIS TO URBAN LOS ANGELES REMAINS ICONICALLY FASCINATING 90 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH.

Passion Wins The Day

In 2019, two Old West Saviors stood out for their dedication to the preservation of our Western heritage.

Earps Gone Wild

BROTHERS WYATT AND MORGAN’S “BUM” YEAR PIMPING IN PEORIA, ILLINOIS, PRIMED THEM FOR THEIR FUTURE AS FRONTIER BOOMTOWN OPPORTUNISTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LAW.

Death Of A Mountain Man

JEDEDIAH SMITH’S LAST TRAIL

Six Guns & Sluggers

HOW 150 YEARS AGO BASEBALL’S CINCINNATI RED STOCKINGS INVADED THE WEST BY RAIL AND SEEDED THE NATIONAL PASTIME ACROSS THE WESTERN FRONTIER.

Jesse James And The Road To Gallatin

The early outlaw years of Missouri’s legendary outlaw trail can be discovered on a road trip across the Show-Me state.

Classic Western Art Rules The Day

The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction in Reno, Nevada, realized over $17 million.

Another Bad Man Gone To Hell

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A BORDER BANDIT

Gunfight In The Galiuros

Questions remain about Arizona’s worst shoot-out—even outdoing the O.K. Corral gunfight.

Blessed Booze

A whiskey salesman and a Presbyterian pastor liven up the American History sale at Cowan’s Auctions.

Cole Younger, American Outlaw - Shot All To Hell!

Cole Younger has to be the toughest outlaw who ever lived. In addition to having 11 slugs in his body, Cole had to guide his horse with his knees after a Northfi eld Raid defender shot away the reins to his bridle with birdshot. Pursued by more than 1,000 farmers hungry for the reward ($10,000), Cole and his two brothers were captured at Hanska Slough and taken to nearby Madelia, Minnesota. After a two-week run in the constant rain, utilizing old newspapers as bandages on multiple wounds and wading through swollen rivers, the outlaw leader finally removed his boots.

Pursuing Outlaw Sam Bass

The trail of the Union Pacific train robbers leads from South Dakota to Texas.

Old Wrist-Breaker

The heavy Model 1840 Cavalry Saber earned this dubious nickname, yet served for decades.

Did She or Didn't She?

Deadwood’s Dora DuFran is credited with coining the word “cathouse.”

Guns That Won The West

Recent firearms auctions proved profitable for sellers and buyers alike.

Surviving The Ride On The Jackass Mail

Crossing the desert proved an ordeal passengers could never forget.

Stone By Stone

Shirley McClintock has dedicated her life to preserving the history of Council Grove, Kansas.

John X. Beidler

A shotgun messenger in Old Montana left a great legacy of service and courage.

History Has Taught Me

My Biography

Traditions Of The West

Discover the best of our collective Western culture in the exhibits at the top museums of 2019.

Western Art Reached The Top Tier

The works of several Old West artists sold at high premium at the Heritage Auction.

Crook Fails Custer At The Rosebud

The general declared it a victory, but history—and historians—still debate the fateful prequel to Little Big Horn and its consequences.