Billy the Kid
Born Henry McCarty and sometimes referred to as William H. Bonney, our famed “gunslinger” was often described as charismatic and well-spoken but with a violent attitude. But with the help of dime novels over exaggerating his exploits, Billy was accredited with nearly 21 killings when in fact, it was only four. As they say in the modern world of print media, don’t believe everything you read!

Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
Notorious bank and train robbers and ring leaders of the Wild Bunch outlaw gang, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid led a per se successful criminal life, becoming America’s most wanted criminals. After establishing their fame in the Old West, the outlaw duo set their sights on Argentina and fled the country. A few bank hits later and Lady Luck’s flame began to burn out. They became western desperados and, according to one theory, perished at the hands of the Bolivian police. Oh how the mighty have fallen!

Jesse & Frank James
Jesse and Frank James are likely to be the most widely celebrated Western bandits in American history, though much of the attention was focused on young Jesse James ( just ask Cher). Beginning their aspiring career as murderers and robbers as a pair, their lives eventually went separate directions. Jesse James was shot from behind by Robert Ford as he turned to straighten a picture frame. Frank surrendered to the authorities but was never convicted so he led a happy life as a happy farmer. The moral of the story? Don’t turn your back on people.

Black Bart
Charles E. Boles, dubbed the Black Bart by local newspapers, was the fearsome robber of the Wells Fargo stagecoach who demanded the loot in such a courteous manner and occasionally left a poetry verse behind. His years of crime finally came to an end when Wells Fargo pressed charges after, what would be Black Bart’s final robbery and was sentenced to 6 years in jail. When his sentence was served, his health had deteriorated, ultimately ending his passion for crime. And that’s what I call poetic justice.

BELLE STARR
To Western history, Belle Starr is synonymous with women outlaws. She always carried two guns, was certainly rough around the edges and definitely had her share of bad company. However horse theft and harbouring other fellow outlaws hardly seems to fit the job description as Queen of the Bandits. To each their own!

THE #1 WOMEN IN THE WEST
Notoriety comes with a price and these ladies show us that coming first isn’t always something to brag about.

Leading a life of poverty, Pearl Hart robbed a stagecoach, becoming the first woman to do so. She also got caught, which meant she became the first female prisoner. Desperate situations call for desperate measures.

Cattle Kate was the first woman to be hung in the state of Wyoming. Unfortunately the only crime she ever committed was not fulfilling the ideal image of feminine Victorian grace.

The story of Cattle Annie & Little Britches shows us that the influence of the opposite sex isn’t something new. Meeting members of an outlaw gang only fuelled and ignited a love for the outlaw lifestyle. Passion for crime or a crime of passion?

THE WOMEN OF THE WILD BUNCH
Although these ladies were affiliated with one of the West’s most notorious outlaw gang, the Wild Bunch, they weren’t quite what you would call femme fatales, seducing their lovers into bank and train robberies. On the contrary, the women of the Wild Bunch gang were themselves seduced into the life of the outlaw. Some, like Etta Place, would stand happily beside their man and others, Laura Bullion and Annie Rogers would lend a helping hand. Guilty by association or selling your soul to the devil?

 THE WOMEN OF TRUE INDEPENDANCE
Whether it’s Calamity Jane wearing men’s clothing while chewing tobacco or smoking cigars and swearing profusely or Annie Oakley knocking off the ashes of a cigarette with her sharpshooting skills and becoming a philanthropist for women’s rights, genuine independence came in various forms in the Old West. Refusing to conform to what would soon become the stars of Tide and Bounce TV commercials, these gals found their identity as they rode into the sunset.

In the Photo
Calamity Jane at Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show
PHOTO COURTESY SD STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Levi Strauss & Co. Est. 1853
Grab a pair of Levi’s®501® jeans and proudly wear a little piece of western history. Born in Bavaria, immigrating to New York with his family and looking to make his fortune during California’s gold rush economic boom, Levi Strauss is the grand-daddy of blue jeans. With the help of his dry goods business and the talents of Nevada tailor, Jacob Davis, the blue jean was born!

Wells Fargo & Co. Est. 1852
During the Gold Rush Era, mail delivery services, banks, express agencies and stagecoach companies were being driven out of business by one single rival company: Wells, Fargo and Company. Established in 1852 by Henry Wells, William Fargo and others, the company’s services came through for gold miners, offering to bank or buy gold, sell paper bank drafts and rapid delivery of gold! Today, Wells Fargo & Co is now catering to us 21th century miners.

John B. Stetson Co. Est. 1865
They say a small investment brings big return and John Batterson Stetson is a true testimony of the old saying. With one hundred dollars, $10 worth of fur, a small room with tools and the “hatting” skills passed down by his father, the John B. Stetson Hat Company was born and the hat that would define the cowboy look for years to come; The Stetson, the Hat of the West or the Boss of the Plains

Take your time and browse our website for fun ideas for your next vacation and learn more about the many great things that make Cody and Yellowstone a vacation destination.

We hope you’ll find our blog to be informative and helpful. Please feel free to contact us at any time with any inquiries you might have.

Park County Travel Council for
Buffalo Bill’s Cody / Yellowstone Country