Last updated on April 6th, 2023 at 10:17 pm

In the 1800s, the Wild West was a lawless land where bands of outlaws roamed free. It was a time of heroes and villains, adventure, and danger.

Surprisingly, some photos from this era still exist, offering a unique glimpse into an often romanticized period of American history. Look at some of these amazing photos from the old Wild West and see if they change some of your preconceived notions.

Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley was one of the most famous sharpshooters of the Wild West. Born in rural Ohio in 1860, she first gained notoriety for her shooting skills at a local marksmanship contest.

Oakley soon joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, where she performed for sold-out crowds across the country and even Europe.

In addition to her impressive shooting abilities, Oakley was also known for her sharp wit and fearless spirit. She quickly became one of the most popular attractions in the country, and her legend only grew after she passed in 1926.

Today, Annie Oakley is considered one of the most iconic figures in American history.

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show

The Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show was one of the most popular attractions of the late 19th century. Founded by William Cody in 1883, the show featured a cast of cowboys, Native Americans, and horses performing tricks and reenactments of famous battles.

At a time when the American West was still largely unexplored, the show gave people a glimpse into the lives of its rugged inhabitants. In addition to its entertainment value, the Wild West Show also helped to foster a sense of national pride.

As one newspaper reported, “The success of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is a tribute to American ingenuity and enterprise.”

Olive Ann Oatman

Olive Ann Oatman was born in Illinois in 1837. In 1851, at 14, she was kidnapped by a group of Tolkepayas while traveling with her family to California. The Tolkepayas traded her to the Mohave people, who she lived with for the next four years before being released.

She eventually married and had children, but the facial tattoos she received during this time marked her as an outsider for the rest of her life.

Yet, despite her difficult early years, Oatman went on to live a long and productive life, serving as an inspiration to others who have faced adversity.

Jesse James

Jesse James was an American outlaw who became famous for his string of robberies in the late 1800s. James was born in Missouri in 1847, and he grew up in a region that was split between the Union and Confederate states.

His family supported the Confederacy, and James became a bushwhacker, engaging in guerrilla warfare against Union forces.

In 1865, James allegedly took part in the slaying of a former slaveholder, and he soon became a target of Union vigilantes. He fled to Texas but eventually returned to Missouri and turned to robbing banks and stagecoaches.

James gained notoriety for his bold robberies, becoming one of America’s most wanted men. In 1882, he was shot by a fellow outlaw who hoped to collect the hefty reward that had been offered for James’ capture.

Though he was only active for a few years, Jesse James left a lasting impression on American folklore around the Wild West.

Belle Starr

Belle Starr was a notorious outlaw in the American West who was known for her sharpshooting and her fiery temper. She rode sidesaddle and was said to be able to shoot a coin in the air and hit it with another bullet.

Born in Missouri in 1848, Belle was raised in a family of staunch Confederates. She became involved with a gang of outlaws led by the notorious Cole Younger. The gang committed a string of robberies and slayings across the Midwest.

She evaded the law until 1889, when she was shot in the back by an unknown assailant. Belle Starr remained a controversial figure.

Some saw her as a romantic figure, while others saw her as nothing more than a common criminal. Either way, her legacy continues to fascinate people to this day.

Ogallala

The town of Ogallala was in the heart of the wild west and was a haven for cowboys and outlaws. Founded in 1885, the town was named after Chief Ogallala Sioux, known for his kindness and fairness.

The town’s original layout was designed to resemble a wagon wheel, with the main street serving as the hub.

Billy the Kid

The wild west was a time of adventure and danger, and no one personified this spirit more than Billy the Kid. Born in New York in 1859, Billy quickly developed a reputation as a troublemaker.

He first came to national attention during the Lincoln County War, when he aligned himself with a group of ranchers known as the Regulators. The Regulators engaged in a bloody feud with their rivals, the House faction, leading to dozens of shootings and slayings.

When the conflict finally ended, Billy was arrested and sentenced to hang. However, he escaped from jail and went on the run, slaying several more people in the process.

In July 1881, he was finally tracked down by Sheriff Pat Garrett and took his life. Nevertheless, Billy the Kid remains one of the most notorious figures of the wild west, and his legend continues to capture the imaginations of people around the world.

James Marshall

James Marshall was an American gold prospector who is best known for his discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in 1848, which sparked the California Gold Rush.

Marshall was born in New Jersey in 1810, and he moved to California in 1845. He initially worked as a carpenter for John Sutter, who owned a large ranch in the Sacramento Valley.

In 1848, Marshall was inspecting the construction of a sawmill on the American River when he found some gold flakes in the water.

Although he initially tried to keep it a secret, word soon got out, and thousands of people came to California in search of gold.

The resulting Gold Rush had a profound impact on the state’s economy and population. Marshall continued to mine for gold until he passed away in 1885.

Bass Reeves

Bass Reeves was a lawman who became a legend in his own time. Born into slavery in Arkansas, he eventually made his way to Oklahoma, where he worked as a U.S. Marshal.

During his long career, Reeves arrested more than 3,000 outlaws and earned a reputation as one of the most effective law enforcement officers in the Old West.

He was also known for his fairness and even-handedness, earning the respect of both whites and Indians alike. In addition to his law enforcement work, Reeves also served as a judge and jury during his years as a marshal.

After retirement, he continued to work for the Territorial Court as an adviser and investigator. Bass Reeves was a true pioneer of frontier justice, and his legacy continues to inspire those who strive for justice today.

The Pony Express

The Pony Express was a mail delivery service that operated in the United States from 1860 to 1861. The service was created to deliver mail between Missouri and California in ten days or less.

Pony riders would carry letters and packages on horseback from one station to the next, covering a distance of up to 10 miles.

Despite the challenges, the Pony Express was a successful operation, delivering over 35,000 pieces of mail during its brief existence. Today, the Pony Express is remembered as one of the most daring feats of the American frontier.

“Wild” Bill Hickok

“Wild” Bill Hickok was one of the most famous gunmen of the American Wild West. He was born in 1837 in Illinois and began his career as a stagecoach driver. He later became a lawman, and it was during this time that he earned his reputation as a skilled marksman.

Hickok famously wore two pistols, which he kept holstered with the hammers cocked. He was slain in 1876 while playing poker in Deadwood, South Dakota.

A man sitting behind him shot him in the back of the head, instantly taking his life. To this day, “Wild” Bill Hickok remains one of the most iconic figures of the American frontier.

Butch Cassidy

There are few figures in the American West more iconic than Butch Cassidy. Born to a Mormon family in Utah, Cassidy began his criminal career as a small-time horse thief before graduating to bank robbery and train robbery.

He was eventually caught and sent to prison, but he escaped and resumed his life of crime. Along with his partner Sundance Kid, Cassidy formed the “Wild Bunch,” a notorious gang of outlaws who committed some of the most daring robberies in history.

After years on the run, Cassidy and Sundance supposedly perished in a shootout in Bolivia. But their legend lives on, and their story has been the subject of numerous books and films.

Whether you love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Butch Cassidy was one of the fascinating characters of the Old West.

Mary Fields

Mary Fields was born a slave in Davidson County, Tennessee, in 1832. She worked in the cotton fields until she was freed in 1863.

After the Civil War, she moved west to work on a ranch in Montana. Mary was an excellent horsewoman and soon became well-known for her skill in driving stagecoaches.

In 1895, she was the first woman to work as a mail carrier in the United States. Mary was a strong, independent woman who wasn’t afraid of hard work.

She was also known for her kind heart – she often took in stray animals, and she was always ready to assist a neighbor in need. Mary Fields was a trailblazer who overcame many obstacles in her life. She is an inspiration to us all.

Life as a Cowboy

It was lonely out there on the range. You’d wake up before dawn, start a fire and make some coffee. Then you’d saddle up your horse and ride all day, moving the cattle from one pasture to another.

There were no roads, so you had to find your way by following the sun and using the stars at night. And if you got lost, well, you might not be found until spring.

The weather could be brutal, too – hot in the summer, cold in the winter. You had to be tough to make it as a cowboy.

But it wasn’t all work and no play. There were plenty of opportunities for fun – like competitions like bronco riding and steer wrestling at the local rodeo. Or a game of poker after a long day on the trail. And when you finally rode into town after weeks on the range, you definitely deserved a cold beer (or three).

So yes, life as a cowboy could be tough. But it could also be exciting, adventurous, and downright fun.

Battle of Little Bighorn

In June of 1876, a group of Lakota and Cheyenne warriors led by Chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse soundly defeated the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army.

The Battle of Little Bighorn, or Custer’s Last Stand, was a pivotal moment in the history of the American West. Although the Lakota and Cheyenne were ultimately forced to surrender, the Battle of Little Bighorn was a significant victory for Native Americans.

It showcased the skill and courage of the Lakota and Cheyenne warriors, and it dealt a crushing blow to the reputation of the US Army. The Battle of Little Bighorn is remembered as one of the most famous battles in American history.

Big Nose Kate

Big Nose Kate was a famous character in the American West. She was born in Ireland in 1846 and moved to the United States as a young woman.

Kate became a well-known dance hall girl and later a prostitute. She is best remembered for her relationship with Doc Holliday, whom she met in Tombstone, Arizona.

The two had a tumultuous relationship, but they remained close until Holliday passed away in 1887. Kate outlived Holliday for many years and passed away in 1940 at the age of 94.

Throughout her long life, she was known for her quick wit and sharp tongue. Kate was one of the most colorful characters in the history of the American West.

Fannie Porter

Fannie Porter was a 19th-century American madam who ran a brothel in San Antonio, Texas. Born in New Orleans, she eventually moved to San Antonio and opened her brothel there in 1881.

She quickly gained a reputation for being one of the most successful madams in the city, and her brothel became a popular destination for wealthy men from all over Texas.

Porter was known for her lavish parties and expensive gifts, and she even attracted the attention of famous politicians and celebrities.

In 1896, she was arrested and charged with running a prostitution ring, but she was ultimately acquitted. Despite her legal troubles, Porter remained one of the most popular figures in San Antonio.

Shootout at the O.K. Corral

On October 26, 1881, a gunfight erupted in Tombstone, Arizona, that would go down in history as the Shootout at the O.K. Corral.

The conflict began when Ike and Billy Clanton, along with several other men, refused to give up their guns when ordered to do so by the town marshal. Words were exchanged, and tempers flared until, finally, the marshal opened fire.

The Clantons and their allies returned fire, and within seconds, three men were slain and three more wounded. The gunfight lasted only about 30 seconds, but its impact would be felt for decades to come.

The Shootout at the O.K. Corral is now considered one of the most famous incidents of the American Old West.

Wild Bunch

The Wild Bunch was a group of American outlaws who operated in the American West in the late 1800s. The group was led by Robert Leroy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy.

The Wild Bunch was known for robbing banks and trains and became famous for their bold and brazen crimes. The group eventually disbanded, but their legend lives on.

The Wild Bunch has been featured in numerous books and movies, and their story fascinates people today.

Cole Younger

Cole Younger was a famous American outlaw who was born in Missouri in 1844. He became involved in the criminal underworld at a young age and soon developed a reputation as a fearless outlaw.

In 1865, he joined forces with Jesse James and participated in a number of high-profile robberies, including the notorious robbing of the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota. After a decade on the run, Younger was finally captured by Pinkerton detectives in 1876.

He was sentenced to life in prison but was released on parole after 20 years. Younger passed in 1916 at the age of 72.

Although he led a life of crime, Younger was also known for his compassion and his sense of humor. He was regarded by many as one of the most colorful figures of the Old West.

John Wesley Hardin

In 1853, John Wesley Hardin was born in Bonham, Texas. The second of eight children, Hardin grew up in a strict Methodist household. His father was a Circuit rider preacher, and his mother was a schoolteacher.

Hardin’s upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of right and wrong. As he grew older, Hardin began to chafe under the constraints of his religious upbringing.

He began to drink and gamble and got into fights with other boys his age. In 1868, at the age of 15, Hardin took his first man’s life in a fight. He was tried as an adult and sentenced to five years in prison.

Upon his release, he moved to Florida, where he worked as a cowboy and became involved in the cattle rustling business. In 1874, he slew another man in a fight and fled to Texas.

There, he met and married Jane Bowen, with whom he would have three children.

Over the next few years, Hardin took several more lives in shootings and duels. In 1877, he was arrested for the slaying of a deputy sheriff and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

He was paroled after serving 17 years of his sentence. Upon his release from prison, Hardin moved to El Paso, where he worked as a lawyer and rancher. He passed away of natural causes in 1895 at the age of42.

San Francisco During the Goldrush

San Francisco is a city that has always been defined by change. In the early 1800s, it was a sleepy backwater, but the discovery of gold in 1848 transformed it into a booming metropolis.

Thousands of people flocked to the city in search of wealth, and over the next few years, San Francisco rapidly grew and changed.

By 1852, it was the largest city in California, with a population of over 20,000. The gold rush also brought new people and cultures to San Francisco, resulting in a diverse and vibrant city. Even today, the spirit of the gold rush can still be seen in San Francisco’s dynamism and energy.

Central City, Colorado

Central City, Colorado, is a small town with a long history. Founded in 1859, it was once a wild west frontier town full of saloons and gambling halls.

Ezra Meeker

Ezra Meeker was a man of the old west. A pioneer who helped to tame the wild west, he was a trailblazer who helped to open up new frontiers. He was also a man of great resourcefulness and courage who faced many challenges in his life.

Born in Ohio in 1830, Meeker was just a young man when he headed west to Oregon in 1852. He settled in Puget Sound, where he built a successful farm and became one of the area’s leading citizens.

In 1864, Meeker embarked on a new adventure, becoming one of the first settlers in what is now Washington state. He later served as the mayor of Tacoma and as a member of the Washington State Legislature.

In his later years, Meeker became known as an advocate for the preservation of the Oregon Trail.

He traveled across the country several times to raise awareness of its importance and even erected monuments along the trail to mark its history.

Meeker’s tireless efforts helped preserve the old west’s legacy, and his story is an enduring reminder of America’s pioneering spirit.

Homesteaders in the Wild West

The Old West was a time of exploration and adventure, and homesteaders played a vital role in opening up the frontier. Although homesteading was difficult and often dangerous, it offered families the chance to own their land and build a new life.

For many homesteaders, the journey west began with a long overland trail. These intrepid pioneers faced many challenges along the way, including harsh weather conditions and scarce resources.

Once they reached their destination, homesteaders had to contend with building homes and fences, planting crops, and dealing with pests and predators.

It was a tough life, but one that many families were willing to take on in order to realize their dream of owning their own piece of the American West.

Calamity Jane

Calamity Jane was one of the most famous figures of the American Wild West. She was known for her unconventional lifestyle, sharpshooting skills, and close friendship with the famed folk hero, Wild Bill Hickok.

Born in Missouri in 1852, Jane moved west as a young woman in search of adventure. She soon found work as a stagecoach driver and eventually became a scout for the United States Army.

During her time as a scout, Jane first gained notoriety, as she was often involved in skirmishes with Native Americans.

In 1876, she met Hickok in Deadwood, South Dakota, and the two became fast friends. Hickok was gunned down just a few months later, an event that deeply affected Jane. She continued to live an adventurous life but never forgot her friend Wild Bill.

Tombstone, Arizona

Tombstone, Arizona, is best known as a wild west town, and for a good reason. It was one of the most lawless towns in the old west, attracting all sorts of outlaws, gunslingers, and adventurers.

The town was also the site of the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which only added to its reputation. Today, Tombstone is a popular tourist destination, and visitors can still get a taste of the wild west.

The town has preserved many of its original buildings, including the O.K. Corral, and there are plenty of opportunities to learn about its storied past.

Geronimo

Geronimo was a Native American warrior who fought against the Mexican Army and later the United States Army. He was born in what is now Arizona, and he belonged to the Bedonkohe tribe of the Apache people.

Geronimo became a warrior at a young age, and he quickly gained a reputation for his skill in battle. He led his people in several successful raids against both Mexican and American targets.

However, he eventually came into conflict with the US government, which was trying to move all Native Americans onto reservations.

After years of war, Geronimo finally surrendered in 1886. He was sent to prison, but he was eventually released and allowed to return to the reservation. Geronimo passed away in 1909, but he remains an iconic figure in American history.

The Anti-Saloon League

The Anti-Saloon League was an American political organization that advocated for the prohibition of alcohol. The League was founded in 1893, and it quickly became a powerful force in politics.

The League was particularly active in the Midwest, where it helped to secure the passage of several state prohibition laws. However, the League’s ultimate goal was to secure a nationwide ban on alcohol.

To this end, the League campaigned tirelessly for the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment.

While the Amendment was initially met with resistance, the League’s persistent lobbying eventually led to its ratification in 1919.

As a result of the League’s efforts, prohibition became the law of the land, and alcoholic beverages were effectively outlawed in the United States.

Poker in the Wild West

In the late 1800s, poker was the primary form of gambling in the American West. Outlaws and lawmen alike often gathered in saloons to play cards, and many a hand was won or lost on a turn of the cards.

However, poker was more than just a way to pass the time; it was also a form of entertainment.

In an era when there were few forms of entertainment available, poker provided an opportunity for people to socialize and show off their skills. In addition, because poker is a game of chance, it allowed people to take risks and test their luck.

For many people living in the western United States, poker was an essential part of life.

Today, poker is still a popular form of gambling, but it has lost some of its luster. With so many other forms of entertainment available, poker has become just one option among many.

Nevertheless, it still remains a popular pastime for those who enjoy taking risks and testing their luck.

The California Gold Rush

The California Gold Rush was one of the most important events in American history. It began in 1848 when gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill and quickly spread as news of the discovery spread throughout the country.

Thousands of people from all over the world converged on California in search of gold, and the resulting population boom profoundly impacted the state.

The Gold Rush also led to a dramatic increase in trade and commerce and a sharp spike in inflation.

By 1850, California’s population had exploded to over 200,000, making it one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. The Gold Rush continued until 1855 when gold production began to decline.

Although it lasted for only a few years, the Gold Rush impacted California and the American West.

Rufus Buck Gang

From 1896 to 1897, the Rufus Buck Gang terrorized Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. The gang, which was made up of both Native Americans and African Americans, committed a series of robberies and slayings.

They were finally captured after a shootout with law enforcement in which two officers were slain. The gang’s leader, Rufus Buck, was hanged in July 1897.

The Rufus Buck Gang was one of the most notorious outlaw gangs in the American West. Their story is a reminder of the violence and disorder that existed in the frontier territories during the late 19th century.

Crazy Horse

​In the late 1800s, a Lakota warrior named Crazy Horse became one of the most respected leaders of his people. He was known for his courage and fighting skills and led his tribe in many successful battles against the US Army.

However, Crazy Horse’s greatest victory came in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, where he and his warriors defeated General George Custer and his troops.

After this victory, Crazy Horse became a symbol of hope for Native Americans who were struggling to keep their land and their way of life.

Unfortunately, Crazy Horse’s success made him a target for the US government, and soldiers slew him in 1877 while he was trying to escape from captivity.

Crazy Horse remains an important figure in Native American history despite his tragic end.

Black Canyon, Colorado

Colorado’s Black Canyon is a steep and wild place. The canyon walls are mostly made of Precambrian gneiss and schist, rocks that are more than 2 billion years old.

The canyon is about 1,000 feet deep and two miles wide at its widest point. It was carved by the Gunnison River, which flows through the center of the canyon.

The Black Canyon has a long and colorful history. Native Americans lived in the canyon for centuries before Europeans arrived. The first Europeans to see the canyon were probably Spanish explorers in the 1500s. But it wasn’t until 1806 that the canyon was truly “discovered” by American settlers.

In that year, Lt. Zebulon Pike led an expedition into the area in search of the legendary lost city of Quivira. Pike didn’t find any lost cities, but he did become the first recorded person to descend into the Black Canyon.

Since then, the canyon has been a popular destination for explorers, settlers, and tourists alike. Inkowski Day Use Area, located near the south rim of the canyon, is named for John C. Ingersoll, who ran a stagecoach station there in the late 1800s. Today, visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, and bird watching in Black Canyon National Park.

The Wheeler Survey Group

The Wheeler Survey Group was an exploration and mapping expedition funded by the United States government in 1869. The group was led by Captain George M. Wheeler and consisted of topographical engineers, naturalists, and photographers.

Their mission was to survey the western United States and create accurate maps of the region. Over the course of three years, the group traveled more than 8,000 miles and made detailed observations of the geography, geology, flora, and fauna of the American West.

The resulting maps and reports were essential in opening up the West to settlement and development. Today, the Wheeler Survey Group is considered one of the most important scientific expeditions in American history.

Doc Holliday

Doc Holliday is best known for his role in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, but there is much more to his story than that. Holliday was born in Georgia in 1851 and grew up in a wealthy family. He was educated in the finest schools and showed great promise as a student.

However, his life took a turn when his mother passed away from tuberculosis when he was just 15 years old. His father remarried soon after, and Doc didn’t get along with his new stepmother.

As a result, he left home and headed west. He eventually ended up in Dodge City, where he met Wyatt Earp.

The two men became friends, and when Earp was appointed marshal of Tombstone, he asked Holliday to come to help him keep the peace. It was there that Holliday made his name as a gambler and a gunfighter.

On October 26, 1881, the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place. Holliday was on Earp’s side, and though they were outnumbered, they emerged victorious.

However, the fight led to a vendetta against the Earps by the Cowboys, a group of outlaws who supported the McLaury brothers (who had been slain in the gunfight).

Over the next few months, several members of both groups were massacred in shootouts. Finally, Wyatt Earp tracked down the leaders of the Cowboys and slew them all.

Doc Holliday played a key role in this final showdown, and after it was over, he left Tombstone for good.

He headed south to Texas, where he lived out the rest of his days. Doc Holliday passed away from tuberculosis in 1887 at the age of 36. Though his life was short, he left behind a legend that has endured for over a century.

Buffalo Soldier

The Buffalo Soldiers were a group of African American soldiers who served in the United States Army during the Indian Wars. The term “Buffalo Soldier” was first used by the Cheyenne warriors, who were impressed by the soldiers’ courage and tenacity in battle.

The Buffalo Soldiers went on to distinguish themselves in a number of conflicts, including the Spanish-American War and the Philippine insurrection. Today, the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers is honored by a number of military units, including an active-duty cavalry regiment.

Deadwood

Nestled in the heart of the Black Hills, Deadwood is a small town with a big history.

Founded in 1876, the town was a booming gold-mining town during the 19th century. However, it was also known for its lawlessness, and infamous outlaws such as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane made their home here.

Alfred A. Hart

Alfred A. Hart (1816-1913) was an American photographer best known for his work documenting the construction of the transcontinental railroad.

Born in England, Hart emigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He began his career as a portrait painter but soon turned to photography, opening a studio in Sacramento, California.

In 1865, Hart was hired by the Central Pacific Railroad to document the construction of the western section of the transcontinental railroad.

Over the next few years, he took hundreds of photographs of the railroad’s progress, from the laying of tracks to the completion of the first transcontinental train journey.

Hart’s photographs provide a unique record of one of America’s most ambitious engineering projects and have been featured in numerous exhibitions and publications.

Today, Alfred A. Hart is considered one of the foremost American photographers of the 19th century.

Building the Transcontinental Railroad

On May 10, 1869, the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads met in Promontory, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. The accomplishment was a testament to the vision and determination of the men who had built it.

The project had begun six years earlier, with two railroads working from opposite ends of the country. Overcoming numerous challenges, including rugged terrain, severe weather, and hostile Native Americans, the crews managed to lay more than 1,700 miles of track.

When the last spike was driven into place, it was a momentous achievement not only for the nation but for the world. The transcontinental railroad would change the way people lived and traveled, opening up new opportunities for trade and commerce. It was truly a feat of engineering that had transformed America.

Cowboy Fashion

When you think of a cowboy, what do you see? A rugged figure on a horse, galloping across the plains? Someone herding cattle or rounding up stray sheep? Whatever image comes to mind, one thing is for sure: cowboys are an iconic part of American history. But what did they actually look like?

For starters, cowboys were typically outfitted in practical clothing that could stand up to long days in the saddle. This typically included a button-down shirt, denim jeans, and a wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sun.

Boots were also essential, both for comfort and function – they needed to be able to grip the stirrups while riding and withstand being caked in mud and manure.

Many cowboys also sported bandannas around their necks, which could be used for everything from wiping sweat to binding a wound.

When it came to their horses, cowboys didn’t mess around. They needed an animal that was strong enough to carry them all day but also agile enough to avoid getting caught in stampedes or navigating rough terrain.

As a result, many cowboys favored breeds like the Quarter Horse or the Appaloosa. And, of course, every cowboy worth his salt had a trusty lasso by his side – just in case he needed to wrangle a runaway calf or steer a wayward steer back onto the trail.

So there you have it: the typical cowboy look. Whether you’re seeing them in movies or in real life, these men (and sometimes women) are truly a part of American legend.

The Old Mission Church

The Old Mission Church was a church in New Mexico that was built in the 17th century. It was one of the first churches in the area and played a big role in the wild west. The church was a place where people could go to worship, and it also served as a school and a hospital.

The church was an important part of the community, and it helped to establish law and order in the wild west. The church is no longer standing, but its legacy continues to live on in the hearts of those who knew it.

Louisa Earp

It’s not every day that you meet a woman as tough and independent as Louisa Houston Earp. Born into a wealthy family, Louisa could have easily settled into a life of luxury and ease.

But she had other plans. When she met Morgan Earp, a wild and rugged gunfighter, she knew she had found her match.

The two of them were married in secret, much to the disapproval of Louisa’s family. But they didn’t care. They were in love. From that day forward, Louisa stood by Morgan’s side through thick and thin.

She was his partner in every sense of the word. And when Morgan tragically lost his life, she refused to let his memory fade. She spent the rest of her life fighting for justice for her husband.

Johnny Ringo

Johnny Ringo was one of the most notorious outlaws of the Old West. A skilled gunman was said to be able to draw and fire his pistol with lightning speed. He was also a cold-blooded bandit responsible for taking numerous men’s lives, both innocent and guilty.

Despite his reputation, Johnny Ringo was not a man who thrived on violence. He was said to be well-educated and well-spoken, and he had a true love for books and learning.

In many ways, he was a complex and contradictory figure, a man who could be both cruel and kind, violent and gentle. Ultimately, though, he was a product of his environment, a man who lived by violence.

A saloon in Wyoming in the late 1800s. Read More

Last updated on May 22nd, 2024 at 04:54 pm

No one can predict the future, but we can better understand the present by looking back at history. 

Here are 100 must-see historical moments – significant events that have shaped our world. From wars and revolutions to scientific discoveries and technological innovations, these are some of the most important moments in human progress. 

Whether you’re a history buff or want to learn more about our fascinating past, check out this list!

50+ Must-See Moments In History Read More

Bernadette Peters, a luminary of American musical theater, has captivated audiences since her Broadway debut in 1967.

Peters is perhaps best known for her roles in Stephen Sondheim’s musicals, including “Sunday in the Park with George” and “Into the Woods,” where her performances earned critical acclaim for their emotional depth. Her ability to convey complex characters has made her a favorite in the theater community and beyond.

Her film career includes standout roles in “The Jerk” (1979) and “Pennies from Heaven” (1981), the latter earning her a Golden Globe nomination. On television, she has appeared in popular shows like “Smash” and “Mozart in the Jungle,” showcasing her adaptability and range as an actress.

Glamorous photos of Bernadette Peters in the 70s and 80s Read More

A plus-size woman walking down the street | Source: Shutterstock

A plus-size woman is rejected by her fiancé’s parents as they want him to marry someone slim and attractive. Soon after, they regret their decision and beg her to marry their son. But it’s too late by then.

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Ben met Stephanie in college and fell in love with her. While she didn’t have the hourglass figure or the most stunning looks of the other girls, she was the most beautiful in his eyes and he adored her.

Stephanie, too, was head over heels for him, and when he proposed marriage to her two months after their courtship, she happily nodded yes. Ben then decided to introduce Stephanie to his parents and invited her home to dinner. But his parents, Stella and Richard, frowned when they saw a plus-size woman entering their house with their son.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unplash

“Ben,” Stella whispered as Stephanie entered and settled on the living room couch. “Is she the girl’s mother?”

“What?” Ben raised a brow. “Mom, what are you even saying? That’s mean! She IS Stephanie, the girl I wanted to introduce to you and dad…”

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“SHE’S TOO BIG, Ben! And that makes her look too old for her age,” Stella told him firmly. “Are you really expecting us to accept her as our daughter-in-law?”

“Mom!” Ben shot back. “You don’t even know her well! How can you just pass judgment on her like that? Please stop this!” he muttered angrily as he walked away.

Stella and Richard were excited to see their son’s fiancée, but they hadn’t anticipated anything like this. Their perceptions of his choice were radically different. In fact, they expected a slim and attractive woman, not a couch potato!

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

While eating dinner, Stella stared at Stephanie as she took another serving of spaghetti and reached for the next slice of garlic bread. Stella and Richard exchanged anxious glances, and after a while, Stella spoke up.

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“Ben,” she said, setting her fork beside her plate. “THIS MUST STOP…”

Ben paused eating and stared at her, perplexed. “What’s the matter, Mom?”

“You and this girl … We don’t approve of your relationship!” Stella declared. “We don’t mind if you stay friends, but your father and I cannot tolerate this!”

“You’re wasting your time here, Mr. and Mrs. Miller.”

Stephanie stopped eating and was as surprised as Ben. “Did I do something wrong, Mrs. Miller? Ben and I love each other, and….”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Excuse me?!” Stella pushed her chair back and sprang to her feet. “Who gave you the right to interrupt my conversation with my son?”

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Stephanie’s eyes welled up. “I didn’t mean to. I – I am sorry….”

“Sorry?” Stella glared at her. “Your apologies will not solve anything! Do you want to know why I’m so pissed? Well, that’s because you’re TOO BIG and you’ll explode someday if you keep eating like that! Don’t you think you’re more into food than my son!” she yelled at Stephanie, whose tears didn’t stop. But Stella wasn’t done yet.

“You know what, let’s get right to it, shall we? I don’t want you in his life. Do you understand? LEAVE HIM ALONE!”

At this point, Ben lost his cool. “Mom! That’s downright mean! Stop insulting her like that!”

“Shut up, Ben!” his father intervened. “Don’t cross your mother in front of nobody! Have you forgotten your manners?

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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Ben couldn’t believe the way his parents were behaving. Stephanie, on the other hand, couldn’t hold back her tears and abruptly left. “I’m sorry, Ben,” she told him before leaving. “I had no idea you called me for this! Thanks for INSULTING me like this!”

As Stephanie left, Ben was furious. “Are you two completely insane? What did you guys just do?”

Ben told his parents he loved Stephanie and wanted to marry ONLY her, but they refused to listen. In fact, because he was still financially dependent on them, they threatened to cut him off financially if he married Stephanie. In the end, Ben was forced to break up with Stephanie despite his willingness to marry her.

Stephanie was in tears when he told her it was over between them. “Ben!” she begged him, teary-eyed. “Don’t do it…We can figure it out. We can do something…”

“I’m sorry, Steph,” he said. “I hope you will forgive me someday…”

After his breakup with Stephanie, Ben’s parents introduce him to their family friend’s daughter, Mia. She was everything Ben’s parents hoped for in their future daughter-in-law: slender, pretty, and stunning. Stella and Richard thought it was an excellent way to divert his attention away from FAT Stephanie.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

But Mia was nothing like Stephanie. She was cold, self-centered, and arrogant. Ben hated her and eventually ended things with her. When his parents found out, they began yelling at him. But Ben had enough.

“Enough, guys!” he shouted. “You are literally controlling my life! Like, I can’t even breathe without your consent! It would have been better if you just threw me out…” he grumbled and walked away, slamming his bedroom door behind him.

From that day on, Ben began to keep his distance from Richard and Stella, and he rarely spoke to them. Moreover, he appeared agitated all of the time.

Richard and Stella finally recognized that they were driving their son away from them, which made them feel awful. So they decided to make up for their mistakes and went to see Stephanie. Little did they know what awaited them…

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Stephanie was perplexed when she heard the doorbell ring that morning because she was not expecting any visitors. What surprised her more was Ben’s parents on her porch. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller? What are you doing here?”

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Richard and Stella exchanged an awkward look. “We apologize for what happened the last time,” Stella said. “We now understand that Ben would never love someone as much as he loves you. Please forgive us and marry him. We beg you….”

But Stephanie refused. “I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Miller, but I’m not going back to Ben. If he truly loved me, he would have fought for me instead of backing off…”

“But darling…”

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“You’re wasting your time here, Mr. and Mrs. Miller,” she cut them off. “Sorry, but I now have someone in my life…”

Richard and Stella noticed a young man preparing breakfast as Stephanie opened her door further. “Tom and I have been together for some time, and we are happy,” Stephanie revealed. “Even more, he and his parents love me for who I am. So please, don’t ever bother me again….”

With that, Stephanie slammed the door shut. Ben’s parents understood they were to blame for their son’s misery, but there was little they could do about it.

What can we learn from this story?

• Your children have the right to be happy and decide for themselves. Stella and Richard drove a wedge between Ben and Stephanie because she didn’t fit their standards. Their actions affected Ben a lot and he eventually grew distant from them.
• Beauty lies on the inside. In the end, Stephanie found someone who admired her for who she was and could stand up for her – Tom saw the beauty within Stephanie that Ben’s parents couldn’t.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a mom who cries helplessly in a cafe until a stranger comes to her aid.

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A woman who can afford to buy only one meal for her three children bursts into tears when one of them says she’s still hungry after eating. Not knowing what to do, the woman can’t stop crying until a stranger steps in to help her.

Anna Morrison was a single mother raising her three children, Joseph, Catherine, and Tom, on her own after her husband died two years ago. Unfortunately, Anna didn’t make a huge living as a tailor, so she and her kids had to make do with the little money they had.

That year, before Tom’s 10th birthday, Anna managed to save some money. She knew it wasn’t a lot, but she could at least treat her children to one proper meal on the special day.

So on Tom’s birthday, Anna took her children to a local cafe. But the prices at the eatery made her brow furrow, and after she read through the entire menu, she realized she could only afford one dish.

The waitress had already brought them water and was waiting for their order at this point, and Anna was too shy to leave the cafe and go somewhere cheaper, so she decided to buy something within her budget.

Finally, she settled on a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, thinking it would suffice them. However, when the dinner arrived, Tom began to complain. “Mom!” he cried. “It’s my birthday today! One dish isn’t enough for the four of us! And I want a drink with my food!”

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As she finished her food, Catherine hugged her tummy and said, “Mommy, I’m still hungry. Can we get something else, please?”

“Yes, mom!” Tom added. “How about a cake? We can’t celebrate a birthday without a cake! Please, please, mom! I’ll wash my hands and be right back! Then we can order it!” With that, Tom dashed to the washroom, and Catherine and Joseph followed him.

As the children left, Anna was reduced to tears. “How do I even tell them I don’t have any money on me? Oh, I’m an awful mother,” she slurred between tears.

Suddenly, she felt a warm hand on her shoulders.

Plus-Size Woman Is Rejected by Fiancé’s Parents, They Beg Her to Marry Him Later — Story of the Day Read More

In June of 1970, journalist Hunter S. Thompson was sent to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, to cover the highlights of the world-famous Kentucky Derby, for Scanlan’s Monthly. The result was a now infamous article entitled, “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved.” 

Virtually ignoring the race itself, Thompson focused instead on the orgy-like atmosphere– “thousands of people fainting, crying, copulating, trampling each other and fighting with broken whiskey bottles”– surrounding the event. 

Writing in “first person,” Thompson set the carnage against the backdrop of the current American political scene: President Richard Nixon had ordered the bombing of Cambodia, and four students had been killed by Ohio National Guardsmen at Kent State University just two days later. 

Though blatantly disregarding the task assigned (and running up an exorbitant liquor and food bill at his hotel), “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved” is considered one of the most significant sports articles of the 1970’s, and more importantly, marked the birth of what has become known as “gonzo journalism” (a style of reporting in first person, making no claims of objectivity, the reporter being part of the story). 

While this article doesn’t define Thompson–or even represent his impressive body of work–it marks a turning point (perhaps, breaking point) for one of the most brilliant, prolific, original, and fearless writers of the past century. 

Early Life

Hunter Stockton Thompson was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 18, 1937, the first of three sons born to Jack Robert Thompson (an insurance adjuster) and Virginia Davison Ray (head librarian at the Louisville Free Public Library).

In December of 1943, when Thompson was six years old, his family moved to the historic neighborhood of Cherokee Triangle in the upscale area of The Highlands, in Louisville; becoming neighbors of future mystery novelist, Sue Grafton. 

Though from an early age Thompson displayed natural athletic abilities, his disdain for authority–even as a boy—deterred any aspirations of participating in organized sports. Turning his attention instead to the written word, Thompson became an avid reader, soon discovering the early works of counter-culture icon Jack Keuroac, and later, J.P. Donleavy.

On July 3, 1952, when Thompson was 14, his father died of myasthenia gravis (a neuromuscular disease) at just 58 years of age. From that time on, Thompson and his brothers were raised solely by their mother, Virginia, living on her librarian’s salary. 

Soon after her husband’s death, Virginia began drinking heavily. 

Education

At about six years of age, Thompson attended  I.N. Bloom Elementary School where, despite his dislike for authority, co-founded the Hawks Athletic Club (and by some accounts, sometimes participated). This led to an invitation to join Louisville’s Castlewood Athletic Club, an organization that prepared young boys for high school sports. (Thompson, of course, didn’t accept.) 

In 1951, Thompson temporarily attended Atherton High School, before transferring in the fall of 1952 to Louisville Male High School. That same year, he was admitted to the prestigious Athenaeum Literary Association, a school-sponsored literary social club founded 1862. (Its members—all from Louisville’s upper-crust–included Porter Bibb, future publisher of Rolling Stone magazine.)

As an Athenaeum member, Thompson contributed articles and worked on the club’s yearbook, The Spectator;until 1955, when he was summarily ejected for criminal activity. Having been in the car driven my the perpetrator, Thompson was charged as an accessory to robbery and sentenced to 60 days in Kentucky’s Jefferson County Jail. 

Released after serving 31 days, Thompson was barred from taking final exams, preventing his graduation.

Military Service

In reaction to the punishment received from Louisville Male High School, Thompson did the unexpected: he enlisted in the United States Air Force. 

Once completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas, Thompson was transferred to Scott Air Force Base, in Belleville, Illinois, where he studied electronics. (He applied to flight school, but was rejected.)

In 1956, Thompson was transferred to Eglin Air Force Base, near Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where he took night classes at Florida State University. Subsequently landing his first professional writing job, Thompson was made sports editor of Eglin’s, Command Courier (a job he ultimately got by lying about his job experience). As editor, Thompson traveled the US with the Eglin Eagles football team, reporting on their games. 

In 1957, Thompson began writing a sports column for The Playground News, a local newspaper published in Fort Walton Beach, Florida; but received no byline as Air Force regulations forbade outside employment.

By 1958, Thompson’s natural contempt for authority paid off when his commanding officer recommended him for an early honorable discharge, stating, “Airman First Class Thompson, although talented, will not be guided by policy. Sometimes his rebel and superior attitude seems to rub off on other airmen staff members.”

Early Career

By the end of 1958, Thompson was working as sports editor for a small newspaper in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, before relocating to New York City. 

There he audited courses at the Columbia University School of General Studies, during which time he worked as a copy boy at Time for $51 a week. (While employed at Time, Thompson typed out sections of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms in order to learn their writing styles.) After a year, Time fired him for insubordination.

Hired and fired as a reporter for The Middletown Daily Record in Middletown, New York, in 1960, Thompson moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, landing a job writing for the sports magazine El Sportivo—which folded shortly after he arrived. He then applied–and was turned down–for a job at the Puerto Rican English-language daily The San Juan Star.

With no contractual writing work available, Thompson opted to became a stringer (a freelance writer working on speculation) for the New York Herald Tribune and a few other US papers; while trying to make a name for himself.

Returning to the US in 1961, Thompson visited San Francisco and eventually lucked into a living/caretaker arrangement in Big Sur, and spent the next eight months at the 375-acre Murphy Ranch. During this period, Big Sur was a “Beat” (Beatnik) haven for writers such as Henry Miller (Tropic of Cancer) and screenwriter Dennis Murphy (The Sergeant)–both of whom Thompson admired. 

In the fall of 1961, Thompson had his first feature magazine article published in Playboy competitor,  Rogue magazine, an over-view of the artisan and bohemian culture of Big Sur; as well as his first piece of fiction, “Burial at Sea.” 

In late 1961, Thompson began work on his first novel, The Rum Diary (which was finally published in 1998 and adapted as a motion picture in 2011).

In May of 1962, Thompson relocated to South America where for the next year worked as a correspondent for the Dow Jones-owned weekly paper, the National Observer; a publication he would contribute to for the remainder of the decade. While in Brazil, Thompson also worked for the Rio de Janeiro-based Brazil Herald, the country’s only English-language daily paper. 

Marriage, Drugs, Hell’s Angels

While writing for both the Observer and the Herald, Thompson’s longtime girlfriend, Sandra Dawn Conklin, joined him in Rio. Returning to the US a short time later, the couple married on May 19, 1963, and after living briefly in Aspen, Colorado, relocated to Glen Ellen, California. Their son, Juan Fitzgerald Thompson, was born in March of 1964.

That summer, Thompson began experimenting with Dexedrine (a powerful amphetamine)commonly referred to as “speed.” Thompson used Dexedrine for the next decade to influence his writing; after which he began using cocaine. 

In 1965, after the Observer refused to print his review of Tom Wolfe’s 1965 book of essays, The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby, Thompson began writing for the Berkeley Underground Press, contributing articles to the Spide—while immersing himself in the local drug and hippie counter-culture. 

That same year, Carey McWilliams, editor of the politiocultural publication The Nation, contracted Thompson to write an exposé about the Hell’s Angels motorcycle club (gang) based in California. (At the time, Thompson was living near San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury District, where the Angels were headquartered.)

The Angels article appeared in the May 17th, 1965 issue of The Nation, after which Thompson received numerous book deals–while he spent the next year living and riding with the Angels. 

The relationship with the gang went sour, however, when they realized that Thompson was exploiting them for financial gain–and demanded their share. An argument ensued, resulting in Thompson receiving a sever beating (“stomping” in Angels vernacular). 

In 1966, when Random House published the hard cover of Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, the dispute between Thompson and the gang was further exploited when CBC Television broadcast a face-to-face between Thompson and Hell’s Angel leader Skip Workman–before a live studio audience. 

In the New York Times review of the book, it praised it as an “angry, knowledgeable, fascinating, and excitedly written book” that portrays the Hell’s Angels “not so much as dropouts from society but as total misfits, or unfits—emotionally, intellectually and educationally unfit to achieve the rewards, such as they are, that the contemporary social order offers.” Thompson himself was lauded as a “spirited, witty, observant, and original writer; his prose crackles like motorcycle exhaust.”  

Fame

Following the wide-spread (and unexpected) success of the Hell’s Angels, Thompson’s writing was suddenly in great demand; his work published in several national magazines including, Harper’s, The New York Times Magazine, Pageant, and Esquire.

In 1967, shortly before the so-called “Summer of Love” was gearing-up in the Haight-Ashbury District of San Francisco, Thompson wrote a scathing piece for The New York Times Magazine called, “The ‘Hashbury’ is the Capital of the Hippies,” in which he criticized San Francisco’s hippie sector as “devoid of both the political convictions of the New Left and the artistic core of the Beats,” resulting in a “culture overrun with young people spending their time in the pursuit of drugs.” He concluded, “The thrust is no longer for ‘change’ or ‘progress’ or ‘revolution’ but merely to escape, to live on the far perimeter of a world that might have been–perhaps should have been–and strike a bargain for survival on purely personal terms.”

Disenchanted with the hippie “scene,” late in 1967, Thompson moved his family back to Colorado, renting a house in a small mountain hamlet outside Aspen called, Woody Creek. 

In early 1968, Thompson joined a number of prominent writers (including Allen Ginsberg, Grace Paley, Frances Fox Piven, and Kurt Vonnegut) in signing the “Writers and Editors War Tax Protest” pledge, refusing to pay income tax, in protest of the Vietnam War.

That same year, Thompson used a $6,000 advance from Random House to travel the country covering the 1968 US presidential election and attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago–collecting material. After witnessing repeated clashes between police and anti-war protesters, he stated, “I went to the Democratic Convention as a journalist and returned a raving beast.”

In early 1969, Thompson received a $15,000 royalty check for the paperback sales of the Hell’s Angels, part of which he used as down payment on the property where he would live for the remainder of his life; a 110-acre piece of land with a house he dubbed, “Owl Farm.” 

In December of that year, Thompson contacted Rolling Stone editor, Jann Wenner, to compliment the magazine’s coverage of the disastrous “Altamont Free Concert,” during which four concert-goers were killed. Wenner responded with an invitation for Thompson to submit his work to the magazine, which soon after became Thompson’s primary writing outlet.

The Early 1970s, Politics, Fear and Loathing

Now a household name, Thompson used his celebrity to pursue a number of interests including a bid for Sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado, as part of a cadre of local residents seeking local offices on the “Freak Power” ticket; his primary platform, decriminalizing drugs. (Thompson lost.) 

Following the notoriety of the article, “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved” in 1970, Thompson began research on the story that would ultimately bring him the most acclaim: “Strange Rumblings in Aztlan,” an exposé on the 1970 killing of Mexican-American television journalist Rubén Salazar, shot in the head at close range with a tear-gas canister by officers of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department during the “National Chicano Moratorium March” protesting the Vietnam War.  

While developing the story, Thompson and prominent Mexican-American activist/attorney Oscar Zeta Acosta traveled to Las Vegas to attend a drug enforcement conference; the resulting story published in Rolling Stone in April of 1971. This and a subsequent trip to Vegas then became the basis for his book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which Rolling Stone serialized in two parts in November of 1971, and Random House published in book form the following year. 

Written in first-person by a fictional journalist named “Raoul Duke” (accompanied by “Dr. Gonzo,” his “300-pound Samoan attorney”), the book essentially reflects Thompson’s own angst at coming to terms with the failure of the 1960s counter-cultural movement. Met with considerable critical acclaim, The New York Times praised it as “the best book yet written on the decade of dope.” 

More importantly, it introduced Thompson’s “Gonzo” journalism style to a much wider readership.

In 1971, Stone editor, Jann Wenner, assigned Thompson to cover the 1972 US presidential election, paying him a $1,000 per month retainer, and providing him a house in Washington DC; the result of which were a series of popular “Fear and Loathing” articles. (He was also offered a deal to publish a post-campaign book, which later appeared as, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’71.) 

The articles, and later, the book, were praised for breaking new boundaries in political journalism, with literary critic Morris Dickstein writing, “[Thompson] had learned to approximate the effect of mind-blasting drugs in his prose style . . . He recorded the nuts and bolts of a presidential campaign with all the contempt and incredulity that other reporters must feel but censor out.”

Falling From Grace

For the next three years, as one of the most popular and in-demand writers in the Western Hemisphere, Hunter S. Thompson could do no wrong. 

But soon after returning from Africa covering the “Rumble in the Jungle”–the world heavyweight boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali in 1974 (which he was too drunk to attend and never bothered to file a story)–Thompson’s writing and reputation fell into serious decline.

In 1975, Wenner sent Thompson to Vietnam to cover the final hours of the Vietnam War–but he arrived in Saigon just as South Vietnam was collapsing and the other journalists were fleeing the country. The following year, Thompson was scheduled to cover the ’76 presidential campaign (and produce a book), but Wenner had such doubts about Thompson’s commitment that he canceled it.  As a result, Thompson’s primary literary output for the remainder of the decade was the first of a four-volume series of books titled The Gonzo Papers (beginning with The Great Shark Hunt, in 1979; ending with Better Than Sex, in 1994).

After 1980, Thompson produced less work, and aside from a few paid appearances, kept to his compound in Woody Creek. Despite the drop-off in contributions, Wenner kept Thompson on the Rolling Stone masthead as chief of the “National Affairs Desk” (and did so until Thompson’s death). 

In 1980, Thompson divorced his wife, Sandra Conklin-Thompson, and later that year, relocated to Hawaii to write, The Curse of Lono, a Gonzo-style account of the 1980 Honolulu Marathon. The book when completed, however, was poorly received and didn’t sell; the editor calling it “disorganized and incoherent.”

Although Thompson continued to occasionally feed his Rolling Stone readers, he effectively sabotaged what remained of his reputation by submitting tasteless, often incoherent gibberish, when provided other writing opportunities. 

(Thompson published these articles as Gonzo Papers, Vol. 2: Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the ’80s [in 1988] and Gonzo Papers, Vol. 3: Songs of the Doomed: More Notes on the Death of the American Dream [in 1990].)

Final years

For the remaining 15 years of his life, Thompson lived as a recluse—while still managing to garner attention. 

In March of 1990, Thompson faced sexual assault charges when former porn film director Gail Palmer claimed that after she rebuffed his sexual advances while visiting his home, Thompson threw a drink at her and twisted her left breast. After a police search of his home, Thompson was charged with five felonies and three misdemeanors (relating to drug possession). Two months later, the charges were dropped.

Throughout the 1990s, Thompson claimed to be working on a novel titled, Polo Is My Life; intended to be Thompson’s last major work. Although fragments of the book were excerpted in Rolling Stone, the completed novel never materialized.

Aside from a scathing obituary of Richard Nixon called “He Was a Crook,” published in 1994, Thompson’s only other notable work from this time was his final Rolling Stone feature, “The Fun-Hogs in the Passing Lane: Fear and Loathing, Campaign 2004,” a brief account of the 2004 presidential election.

Between 2003 and 2005, Thompson published his final collection, Kingdom of Fear: Loathsome Secrets of a Star-Crossed Child in the Final Days of the American Century (publicized as Thompson’s memoir). 

Bringing his career full circle, between 2000 and 2005, Thompson wrote a weekly column for ESPN.com’s Page 2, called, “Hey, Rube.” (In 2004, Simon & Schuster published a collection of these columns titled, Hey Rube: Blood Sport, the Bush Doctrine, and the Downward Spiral of Dumbness.)

On April 23, 2003, Thompson married his assistant, Anita Bejmuk. 

The Final Frontier

On February 20, 2005 at 5:42 pm, Hunter Stockton Thompson shot himself in the head at “Owl Farm,” while speaking to his wife on the telephone. 

Per his wishes, his body was cremated. 

On August 20, 2005 (also per his wishes), in a private funeral funded by actor Johnny Depp,  Thompson’s ashes were fired into the sky from a cannon, while Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky” played. 

The Life and Strange Times of Writer Hunter S. Thompson Read More

The Barnard Tavern and adjacent Frary House in Deerfield, around 1920. Image from An Architectural Monograph on Old Deerfield (1920).

The scene in 2023:

This building stands on the east side of Old Main Street in Deerfield, just south of the common in the historic town center. It consists of two separate but adjacent structures, with the Frary House in the distance on the left and the Barnard Tavern here in the foreground. The Frary House is the older of the two sections, dating to around the 1750s, and the tavern was constructed around 1795.

As was the case with late 18th and early 19th century taverns across New England, the Barnard Tavern was not only a place for travelers to stop and have a meal or spend the night; it was also an important community hub for locals, and it was frequently used as a gathering place. The building had the bar room and kitchen on the first floor, while the upper floor housed a large assembly room that was used for a variety of meetings and other public events.

By the late 19th century, both buildings were in poor condition. However, in 1890 the property was purchased by teacher, historian, and author C. Alice Baker (1833-1909). Originally from Springfield, Baker had attended Deerfield Academy. During the 1850s she taught at a school in Illinois, and then at Deerfield Academy, and then started her own school in Chicago. She subsequently returned east, and became active in studying local history, particularly the history of Deerfield. She never married, but she lived with another woman, Susan Lane, who was described in contemporary sources as her “lifelong companion.” After purchasing this building in Deerfield, Baker worked to restore it, and she made the Frary House side into her home.

The restored Frary House/Barnard Tavern became an important landmark in Deerfield, and it was often photographed in publications about the town, as was the case with the top photo around 1920. The building was at one point owned by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, but it is now owned by Historic Deerfield. It is one of the many properties that the organization has preserved, and both halves of the building are open to the public for guided tours on a regular basis.

Barnard Tavern, Deerfield, Massachusetts Read More

The house at 58 Old Main Street in Deerfield, on July 24, 1930. Image courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leon Abdalian Collection.

The house in 2023:

These two photos show the Nims House, which is one of the many historic homes that line Old Main Street in Deerfield. The exact date of construction is unclear, but it stands on the site of an earlier home that was owned by Godfrey Nims in the late 17th century. The earlier house was burned during the February 29, 1704 raid on Deerfield, and three of his children died in the fire. Most of his surviving family members were taken captive and marched to Canada, and his wife Mehitable died several days into the march. Godfrey himself was not taken captive, but he died just a year later, in 1705.

The current house is traditionally said to have been built around 1710 by Godfrey’s son John Nims, who had been among the captives. He survived the ordeal and returned to Deerfield, where he married his wife Elizabeth Hull in 1707. However, recent dendrochronological analysis by William Flynt of Historic Deerfield has called this date into question. The timbers in the house reflected a wide range of ages, but indicated that the house could have been built no earlier than the early 1720s, and probably had significant alterations done in the 1740s. The gambrel roof is not original to the house, but rather was added sometime around the early 1790s.

Regardless of exactly when it was constructed, the house would remain in the Nims family for many generations. During the early 19th century it was owned by Seth Nims, who operated a post office here in the house from around 1816 until his death in 1831. The house was ultimately sold out of the family in 1894.

The top photo was taken in 1930, showing both the Nims house and also the neighboring Barnard Tavern in the distance on the left. A few years later, in 1936, the house was purchased by Nims descendants who, in turn, donated it to Deerfield Academy in 1938. The house is still owned by the school, and it serves as a faculty residence. As shown in the bottom photo, the house has seen only minimal changes since the top photo was taken nearly a century ago.

John Nims House, Deerfield, Massachusetts Read More

The Wells-Thorn House at the corner of Old Main Street and Memorial Street in Deerfield, in November 1959. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey Collection.

The house in 2023:

This house was built around 1747 as the home of Ebenezer Wells (1691-1758) and his wife Abigail Barnard (1691-1772). They had no children, but their household here included at least two enslaved people: Lucy Terry (c.1733-1821) and Caesar (baptized 1734). Lucy is best remembered today for being the author of the poem “Bars Fight,” earliest known work of African American literature. The poem memorializes those who were killed during a 1746 Native American raid on a group of families that were working in the meadows, or “bars,” near the village. It seems unclear when the poem was first put down on paper, but it remained an oral tradition for more than a century before it was published by Josiah Gilbert Holland in his 1855 book History of Western Massachusetts. According to Holland, the poem reads:

August ’twas the twenty-fifth,
Seventeen hundred forty-six;
The Indians did in ambush lay,
Some very valient men to slay,
The names of whom I’ll not leave out.
Samuel Allen like a hero fout,
And though he was so brave and bold,
His face no more shall we behold.
Eleazer Hawks was killed outright,
Before he had time to fight,—
Before he did the Indians see,
Was shot and killed immediately.
Oliver Amsden he was slain,
Which caused his friends much grief and pain.
Simeon Amsden they found dead,
Not many rods distant from his head.
Adonijah Gillett we do hear
Did lose his life which was so dear.
John Sadler fled across the water,
And thus escaped the dreadful slaughter.
Eunice Allen see the Indians coming,
And hopes to save herself by running,
And had not her petticoats stopped her,
The awful creatures had not catched her,
Nor tommy hawked her on her head,
And left her on the ground for dead.
Young Samuel Allen, Oh lack-a-day!
Was taken and carried to Canada.

Because the raid happened only a year or so before this house was built, it is possible that Lucy was living in the house when she composed the poem. But either way, she appears to have lived here until at least 1756, when she married Abijah Prince, a free Black man who was from Curaçao. An article written by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association suggests that the wedding may have occurred here in this house, as was customary for the time. Lucy appears to have gained her freedom around this time, and she and Abijah lived on the eastern part of the Wells property early in their marriage. By 1764, they had moved to Guilford, Vermont, where they owned land. Abijah died in 1794, and Lucy eventually moved to Sunderland, Vermont, where she died in 1821.

In the meantime, Ebenezer and Abigail Wells lived here until Ebenezer’s death in 1758. He left the house to his nephew Ebenezer Wells (1730-1783), and Abigail subsequently moved to Northampton. The younger Ebenezer lived here for the rest of his life, as did his wife Mercy Bardwell (1737-1801). Their son David then inherited the property, but sold it to lawyer Hezekiah W. Strong (1768-1848).

Strong repainted the house to a bright robins egg blue color, evidently in the hopes of drawing attention to his law practice. However, he only remained in town for a few years, and he sold it in 1804 to John Dwight. The house was later owned by the Ware family for most of the 19th century, and then in 1905 it was sold to Edwin (1874-1920) and Luanna (1874-1965) Thorn. Edwin was a physician, but both he and Luanna were involved in the Deerfield Arts & Crafts movement. They produced colonial-inspired household goods, including furniture and textiles, and they sold them out of a shop here in their home.

Edwin Thorn died in 1920, but Luanna outlived him by many decades. She was still living in the house when the top photo was taken in 1959, as part of the documentation of the house by the Historic American Buildings Survey. She eventually sold the property to Historic Deerfield in 1962, and the house has since been restored and opened to the public as a museum. On the interior, each room is decorated to match a different time period, beginning in the early 18th century and going through the mid 19th century. On the exterior, the house has been painted the same shade of blue that Hezekiah Strong had used in the early 19th century, as shown in the 2023 photo.

Wells-Thorn House, Deerfield, Massachusetts Read More

The Joseph Barnard House, also known as the Willard House or the Old Manse, on Old Main Street in Deerfield, around 1920. Image from An Architectural Monograph on Old Deerfield (1920).

The house in 2023:

Old Main Street in Deerfield is one of the best-preserved colonial-era town centers in New England, and it features many excellent examples of 18th and early 19th century architecture. However, this house stands out as perhaps the finest of these, representing sophisticated Georgian architecture here in what was, at the time, a very rural part of colonial Massachusetts.

The house was constructed starting in 1769, and it was completed in 1772. It was designed and built by Jonas Locke, and the original owner of the house was Joseph Barnard, a wealthy local merchant. Whether he actually lived here seems unclear, though, and he may have built it for his son Samuel. In any case, the house was owned by the Barnard family until 1794, when it was sold to Ebenezer Williams. He eventually sold it in 1811 to the Rev. Samuel Willard, for $3,333.

Rev. Willard was the nephew of Harvard president Joseph Willard, and he had become the pastor of the church in Deerfield in 1807. It was during his pastorate that, in 1824, the church constructed its brick meetinghouse that still stands across the street from his house. However, Willard retired from his position at the church in 1829 due to progressive blindness. He briefly moved to Hingham, but then returned to Deerfield and lived here in this house until his death in 1859.

The top photo shows the house in the early 20th century. By that point, the house had apparently undergone some alterations, including the installation of exterior shutters and 6-over-6 windows, along with 2-over-2 dormer windows, none of were likely to have been original to the house. However, the exterior has since been restored, and today the house has 12-over-12 windows, in keeping with colonial-era architecture. The house is now owned by Deerfield Academy, and it serves as the residence for the head of school.

Joseph Barnard House, Deerfield, Massachusetts Read More

The house at 37 Lexington Road in Concord, around 1895-1905. Image courtesy of the Boston Public Library.

The scene in 2023:

The house in these two photos was built around 1752-1753 by John Ball, a silversmith who lived in the neighboring house to the east. He does not appear to have personally lived in this house, because he sold it in 1753. According to the house’s MACRIS inventory form, the house had a series of owners during the 18th and early 19th centuries. From the mid-1750s until 1773 it was owned by Joseph Butler, a tavern keeper who later served as a militia captain at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolution. In 1773 it was purchased by Thomas Cordis. He died young, and his widow Elizabeth remarried to Jonas Lee, and they lived here in this house until her death in 1808. Jonas then remarried to Martha Abbott, and then to Rebecca Colburn. It was in 1815, while he was married to Rebecca, that Jonas Lee enlarged the house with the large wing on the right side of the house.

The Lee family sold the house in 1827, and it saw a variety of owners throughout the rest of the 19th and into the 20th centuries. The top photo was taken around the turn of the 20th century, when it was owned by the Walcott family. It would remain a private residence until 1922, when artist Elizabeth Wentworth Roberts purchased it for the Concord Art Association. She had founded the association five years earlier, and this building became its first permanent home.

More than a century later, the Concord Art Association is still headquartered here, as shown in the bottom photo. Remarkably little has changed here in this scene, aside from the removal of the historically inappropriate shutters, and even the large elm in the foreground appears to be the same one that was growing here when the top photo was taken.

John Ball House, Concord, Massachusetts Read More