The West
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Contents
General |
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- Autry Museum of the American West Describes the American West through art, collectibles, and about the life the rancher and cowboy.
- Buffalo Bill Center of the West Located in Cody, Wyoming, this center explores the life of Buffalo Bill Cody, the natural history of the Greater Yellowstone area, and the history of the American West.
- Cowboys to Cattlemen: Museum Collections at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site Explore what it was like cattle ranching in the West from 1850-1980.
- Ghost Town Gallery This interesting site is a collection of photographs and brief histories of 174 ghost town in the western United States.
- Mountain Men and the Fur Trade An interesting website about the mountain men in the Rockies, includes primary sources, images, and other information.
- Museum of the Mountain Man Explores the history of the fur trade in the Rocky Mountains.
- New Perspectives on The West The companion website to the Ken Burns' documentary, The West. Contains information on famous people, places, and events. Also includes additional resources.
- Utah History Encyclopedia Explore the history of the state of Utah with 575 articles and over 200 historic photographs.
- The West: A Film by Stephen Ives The companion website to the PBS documentary about the history of the American West. Includes episode guide, primary sources, timeline, biographies, and teacher's guide.
- WyoHistory The Wyoming Historical Society hosts this rich collection of Wyoming's history, with an encyclopedia, images, and bibliographies. There's also an oral history section.
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Trails |
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- The Donner Party Investigates the Donner Party and what happened on their journey from Springfield, Illinois to Suller's Fort, California.
- Mapping the Overland Trails Shows the routes of the Oregon Trail, California Trail, and the Mormon Trail with maps, diary entries, and more.
- Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail Follows that trail from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah that 70,000 Mormons took from 1846 - 1869. The 1300 mile trail goes through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Utah.
- Oregon National Historic Trail Follow the Oregon Trail that many pioneers followed to the West. Starts in Independence, Missouri and ends at Portland, Oregon. Goes through Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.
- Scotts Bluff National Monument This was a landmark to pioneers on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails.
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Gold Rushes |
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- Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historic Park Discusses Seattle's role in the 1897 stampede to the Klondike after gold was discovered.
- Marshall Gold Discovery State Park Summarizes the California Gold Rush at the site where James Marshall discovered gold while inspecting his sawmill.
- The Virtual California Gold Country Describes the history of the California Gold Rush along what is now Highway 49 including mining camps, images, and links to related resources.
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Forts |
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- Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site Explores the Santa Fe Trail and fur trade fort built by William and Charles Bent in 1833.
- Fort Bowie National Historic Site Discusses the conflict between the United States military and the Chiricahua Apaches.
- Fort Davis National Historic Site This frontier fort was established in 1854 and was in service until it was abandoned in 1891.
- Fort Laramie National Historic Site Describes the history of Fort Laramie which was built in 1834 as a fur trading fort and later a stop on the Oregon Trail.
- Fort Larned National Historic Site Established in 1859, it was on the Santa Fe trail and played a role in "Hancock's War" in 1867 when General Winfield S. Hancock battled with the Cheyenne.
- Fort Union National Monument Chronicles the history of Fort Union in New Mexico that served to protect the Santa Fe Trail and the Southwest.
- Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site The American Fur Company ran this North Dakota trading post from 1828-1867 trading fur with the Assiniboine and other Plains Indian nations.
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People |
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- The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave Profiles the life of Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Shows.
- Kit Carson Home and Museum Offers a timeline of the life of mountain man, Kit Carson, and a history of his New Mexico home.
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Events |
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- Big Hole National Battlefield Tells of the battle on August 9, 1877 between the Nez Perce and U.S. troops.
- Chamizal National Memorial Delves into the border dispute that lasted 100 years between Mexico and the United States until the 1963 treaty.
- Golden Spike National Historic Site This is the site in Utah where the transcontinental railroad came together.
- Little Bighorn History Alliance A comprehensive look at the Battle of Little Bighorn with lists of participants, articles, and links to other resources.
- The O.K. Corral Trial Examines the trial of the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday after the 1881 gun battle at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona that left three dead.
- Pony Express Museum Explores the history of the Pony Express.
- Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Features the ruins of the Franciscan mission from the 17th Century and later abandoned.
- Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Memorializes the 160 Cheyenne and Arapaho that were killed in a raid by the U.S. Calvary on November 29, 1864.
- Washita Battlefield National Historic Site Preserves the battlefield where Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer attacked a Cheyenne village on November 27, 1868 killing 30 to 60 Cheyenne and 20 cavalrymen.
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