Life in the Old West

Gold led settlers to Boise; irrigation farming kept them there

Old Hoppy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:18:07 +0000

Early days of Boise, Idaho, shaped by gold fever then irrigation canals and farming.

Grass played major role in shaping life, language of the Plains

Old Hoppy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:10:26 +0000

Grass itself shaped everything from life on the Plains to the language of the Old West.

Prairie Traveler handbook led adventurers across continent

Old Hoppy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:20 +0000

The Prairie Traveler Handbook offers a fascinating picture of life on the trails during America's 19th century westward expansion.

Esther Morris tea party shaped Wyoming and U.S. history

Old Hoppy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:32:08 +0000

This woman of the West made history regarding the rights of women everywhere.

Great American Desert label shaped expansion for decades

Old Hoppy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:50:30 +0000

The label "Great American Desert" was given to what we now call the Plains or Great Plains in 1820 and shaped westward expansion for decades after that. Even today, some tourists from outside the United States are surprised that the midsection of the country is not geologically or geographically an empty desert region. While the

Add Old West fun to your home with Western signs, furnishings

Old Hoppy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:30:56 +0000

Find Old West themed Western gifts, from furniture to gold panning supplies!

Black Bart, Rattlesnake Dick made life hard for Wells Fargo

Old Hoppy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:47:18 +0000

Expressmen of the Old West faced stagecoach holdups from colorful robbers.

Oregon Trail carried hundreds of thousands into new lives

Old Hoppy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:20:15 +0000

The Oregon Trail, starting near Kansas City, Missouri, and ending in the Oregon Territory, carried literally hundreds of thousands of people of every sort into new lands in the West, into new lives. Throughout much of the westward pioneer period, the trail was actually little more than well-worn, widened ruts that people set out to

To have a foe ‘Green River’ you was not good in the Old West

Old Hoppy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:03:34 +0000

Sturdy Green River Knife, brought to the West by the Mountain Men, shaped Western culture and language.

Dude ranches now add swimming pools to Old West experience

Old Hoppy — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:31:47 +0000

Today's dude ranches struggle to get up to speed and keep attracting today's dudes to enjoy our Old West heritage.