The popular belief is that being a cowboy was just as easy as getting a drink at the bar, riding a horse, or getting into a brawl. That’s likely partly true. In this photo, we see a bunch of cowboys enjoying a drink and a quick chat with the bartender at the Saloon. This was in the year 1907 in Old Tasacosa, Northern Texas.
Back then, going to the saloon was a way to let off some steam and relax. Maybe play some poker, drink, and negotiate cattle. Like the establishments we have today, some saloons were open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and were not just popular among cowboys, but it was also a sweet spot for gold diggers, soldiers, travelers, and, believe it or not, lawyers. Certainly looked like the place to be!
Big Nose Kate
Other than the outlaws we have already mentioned in this list, like Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy, The Sundance Kid, and Jesse James, did you know that there were also quite a few outlaws back in the old west that was female gunslingers? Yup! You read that right! Let’s take Big Nose Kate, for example; she wasn’t just an outlaw but also Doc Holliday’s wife. She helped him escape from jail by setting the entire establishment on fire.
Another well-known female outlaw was Calamity Jane. She first started out as a part-time streetwalker who liked to wear men’s clothing and performed in wild west shows. As for sharpshooters, we have the legendary Pearl Heart, Lillian Smith, who was just 15 years old, and Mary fields, also known as “Stagecoach Mary,” who wasn’t afraid to try anything dangerous or, to say the least, start a fight out of nowhere. Talk about women of power, huh?
The California Gold Rush
Are you familiar with the California Gold Rush? This unforgettable time in the old west began in 1848, attracting many men and women from all over the world to get a chance to dig up some gold. The growing population had very few women at the time. Still, eventually, a lot of other opportunities started growing for women in the area, which then attracted more to go to California.
The women you see in the photo took part in the search and brought their husbands along with them for the gold. If they couldn’t arrive with their families, they would have to search for gold on their own. Other popular aside from gold panning involved cooking, housekeeping, washing clothes, dancing, and acting.
Bob’s Saloon
As we mentioned, saloons were a popular go-to place back in the old west. One of the most popular establishments located in Jordan, Montana, in the early 1900s, was Bob’s Saloon. In this photo, we see a group of cowboys just taking a breather outside the saloon in 1904. The photo was taken by LA Huffman.
The owner, Robert Leavitt, was a cowboy, too, and was also one of the first settlers in Jordan. It makes you wonder what these guys would do inside a saloon all day. Many western saloons offered their clients various types of entertainment, which included dancing, card games, dice games, and bowling. Have you ever watched saloon scenes on TV? It’s pretty accurate. Other than the live entertainment, there were also piano players and theatrical skits. Cool!
The Cowboy Look
In the wild west, cowboys were more than just animal herders. In fact, they even had a term called “The Cowboy Look.” This term started with livestock herders from the Spanish Vaquero. These herders required more than just herding skills; they also needed to have physical ability, which needed to be developed at a young age.
Most American Cowboys were white men. There weren’t a lot of African Americans, Mexicans, or American Indians, but they all worked as cowboys by the late 1860s. The look has become iconic since then. They look exactly like they do in the movies, where they wear a bandanna, leather gloves, chaps, boots, a pair of sturdy jeans, and of course, the well-known cowboy hat.