Brings to life the once-busy and prosperous towns of Tuscarora, Nevada, South Pass City, Wyoming, Winter Quarters, Utah, Antelope, Oregon, and Allensworth, California, whose singular reasons for growth were the very reasons for their deaths.
Describes some famous train robberies of the Old West and the involvement of such notorious outlaws as Jesse James, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and the Dalton Gang.
Recounts the history of the ninth and tenth Cavalry regiments, comprised of African-American soldiers recruited to open the West to settlers and whose deeds included escorting wagon trains, carrying mail, and fighting battles against Native Americans.
Presents essays, jokes, riddles, and suggested readings on aspects of the Wild West, from the Oregon Trail to the Alamo, from Native Americans to cowboys, from explorers to outlaws.
