A land rush was an exciting race to claim a lot in a new town. The general store, or "shebang", was the life of the town, where goods could be purchased, including prefabricated homes.

Tom Horn was a scout, cowboy, soldier, range detective and convicted killer as told by fellow podcaster Jon Hagadorn (1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast).

With a rifle, six-shooter, ammunition, horse and blanket, these men faced some of the worst outlaws. The pay was poor, some rode both sides of the law, but most were faithful brave men doing their job.

Towns by the thousands sprang up across the west, some prospered and grew. They attracted butchers, bakers, merchants, doctors, but the editor of the newspaper was most important.

He spent time in jail for cattle rustling and robbing a bank. So how did this man become President of the very bank he helped rob, and became a stalwart citizen?

Violence was not uncommon in the small gold rush towns, but the Triskett Gang were thieves and murderers. Frontier justice put an end to their rein of terror.

Fires, snags, sand bars and exploding boilers were just some of the dangers for steamboats on the treacherous Missouri River.

The outlaw horse had never been ridden and had killed two men. The pride of the ranch depended on Shorty and his bronc riding ability.

Setting broken bones, gunshot wounds, amputations, appendectomies, tracheotomies and even brain surgery was performed by skilled surgeons in the homes of pioneers.

He was handsome, pleasant, a perfect gentleman but deadly with a six-gun. He rode both sides of the law, rustled a few cows, killed a few cowboys and died the way he lived.

Steamboat races on the Sacramento River was a popular pastime. The captains would do anything to win, including ramming and shooting at the the other boat.

Who was this man and how did he become petrified? Is it General Meagher or Antelope Charley? This rare specimen made a lot of money for the owners.

Malee, daughter of a Creek Indian Chief, was known as Florida's Pocahontas after saving the life of a soldier. She was the only woman in US history to be awarded a special medal.

Salt beef, salt pork, beans, bread, hardtack, cornmeal mush all washed down with black coffee and they did their own cooking. Food shortages were common, along with moldy, rancid and spoiled meat.

The Lost Creek Mine seemed to bring nothing but bad luck and for some a curse.

Vaughan was a mix of gunplay, murder, livestock rustling and occasionally a good citizen. The old gunfighter's body, scarred by thirteen bullet wounds, died falling off a horse.

Captain John Gunnison was on a surveying mission in Utah Territory. A wagon train of Missourians, determined to kill Indians, and Pahvant Indians bent on revenge ended in tragic death on both sides, including Gunnison.

Early travelers faced choking dust, mud, insects, bad weather, not enough food, sickness and often death. Travelers preferred treatment from traders and mountain men.

In the 1600's, the Spanish enslaved local natives for mining gold. One man discovered gold, but was shot and killed. Before he died, he told a local cowboy where to find the treasure.

Ouray, a skilled hunter and fierce warrior, negotiated treaties and was known as the "Peace Chief". Chipeta, his wife, was respected and loved by her people and was known as "Queen of the Utes".

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid lived here along with 100 to 200 outlaws from 1880 to 1910. No sheriff or posse dared enter the hideout where an army of killers and robbers were living.

Some men carried the secret location of their rich finds to their graves, and yet over a billion dollars in gold and silver came from mines in Idaho, some of which were accidentally found.

Born the daughter of Chief Winnemucca, Sarah was a guide and interpreter for the army. She spent her life trying to get sufficient food and clothing for her people living on reservations with dishonest Indian agents.

Nearly eaten by a bear, chased by Indians, he hid in a cave, nearly drowned, treed by wolves and near starvation, he was rescued by two trappers. Mountain man and trapper, Tom, finally made it to the annual rendezvous in Pierre's Hole.

Over 10,000 sheep and one man were killed during Oregon's sheep and cattle wars. The sheep shooters took an oath of secrecy to join the brotherhood of sheep haters hoping to drive sheep out of the country.

The Dude Wrangler, Jack Potter's Courtin', How Many Cows?, Young Fellers, Reincarnation.

The Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg saw thousands killed or wounded. Kirkland, became known as "the angel of Marye's Heights," as he bravely carried water into no-man's land to give relief to wounded soldiers from both sides.

Majete Wildlife Reserve, Mount Mulanji, Monkey Bay and Lake Malawi, and amazing wildlife. The Dzaleka Refugee Camp with 7,000 people just trying to survive.

A beautiful green country, thousands of acres of maize, tea, tobacco, macadamia nuts. 24 hour stay in a village eating, sleeping and dancing with these great people. This is the first time the village has done this.

After a long trek and hearty meal of hardtack and salt pork they slept in a tent with twelve other soldiers. Water was sometimes strained through their sock causing various forms of intestinal distress (originally recorded 3/12/13).

Life was rough for the cavalry, they faced Indians, bad weather, heat and lack of proper food. They took good care of their horses, carried their own gear and many hours in the saddle could cause "serious" discomfort (originally recorded 3/5/13).

Ned Christie, son of a Cherokee Chief, had money and education. He decided robbing banks, trains and stealing horses was a better vocation, until he met Heck Bruner.

Nancy Kelsey was the first white woman to cross the Sierra Nevadas. She walked barefoot carrying a baby and was an inspiration to her fellow travelers. Nellie Chapman was the first licensed dentist in the Old West.

She was an Indian Princess, daughter of the Chief of the Powhatans. She saved John Smith, helped keep the peace and supplied the colonists with food, she played a major role in the "Miracle of Jamestown".

All was not work for the pioneers. Jollification was the term used for any excuse to dance, celebrate, have quilting bees, barn raising, candy pulling and just getting together.

Buffalo Bill, Wyatt Earp, Pat Garrett and Bat Masterson were buffalo hunters. Ranchers were glad to have more feed for their cows, for the Indians it was a tragedy.

Before politics he tried cattle ranching and was successful for awhile, but severe losses ended his cattle business. He gained fame in Cuba with his "Rough Riders" and eventually became our 26th President.

After 1600 miles fighting battles, hunger and cold, Chief Joseph surrendered. His famous words, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

Attempts at peace failed after a white flag of truce was ignored. After the Battle of White Bird Creek and the Clearwater, the military realized they were fighting brave skilled warriors fighting for their families.

Chief Joseph - Episode 1The Nez Perce, a gentle tribe, helped the white men, including Lewis and Clark. Trouble began with the signing of a treaty forcing some to leave their lands and leading to battles and a 1700 mile trek.

America's first train robbery, five Reno brothers, stole a lot of money and set the example for future robbers. John spent 25 years in prison, the others met their fate at the end of a rope.

The quest for a river leading to the Pacific Ocean led to half-truths, exaggerations and downright lies. Captain Robert Gray, Alexander Mackenzie and the Lewis and Clark expedition finally established the rivers West.

A river of flowing mud, dead trees, and sand bars, yet thousands traveled by canoes, flatboats, Mackinaws, keelboats and steamboats to reach the Rockies.

Real gunfights in the old west were not like those seen in movies. Bat Masterson, Pat Garrett, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and the gunfight at the OK corral all had their own gunfights. (Previously recorded show from Jan 22, 2013)

1862, The Tonkawa tribe awoke to an attack by the Shawnees, Delawares, Wichitas, Kickapoos and a few other tribes Why? Maybe it was because they acted as scouts for the Army in attacking other Indian tribes, or their tradition of eating their enemies.

Cattle drives faced a lot of challenges, not always making a profit. Payment to Indians for crossing their land, freezing weather, buffalo, elk and deer mingling with the cattle were just some of the challenges.

Weary and starving, the explorers accepted food and a canoe ride only to be ambushed. Heddon packed his wounded companion over thirty miles to safety.

The UP began the Transcontinental Railroad in Omaha. Thousands worked in all kinds of weather, heavy lifting, shoveling, pounding spikes, setting ties and rail, they accomplished the impossible.

With picks, shovels, wheel barrows, teams and scrapers, they prepared the grade for ties and rails. The Chinese ate healthy, worked hard and had the most dangerous job of drilling and blasting the solid rock to build the tunnels.

They came first to lay out and mark the line for the Transcontinental Railroad, trying to avoid lakes, mountains and rivers. Like Lewis and Clark, they explored the west to find the best route. Grenville Dodge fought Indians, explored and found the route West.