The American Frontier was a vast and untamed wilderness that was once a land of boundless opportunity. In the earliest days, it stood as an untouched testament to natures beauty, before the forces of settlement began to reshape its landscapes. Imagine traveling with your family and neighbors to a completely unknown sea of endless green. We want to share with you the heroes who traveled across the gruesome frontier and lived to tell the tale. Here are 17 images of the American Frontier before it was settled.
1. U.S. Army Cavalry soldiers camping their way across the frontier in the early 1890s.
To the normal person, this wouldn’t seem like a bad time. I mean you get to camp with your buddies and travel across the country. But the reality is, life on the frontier is a harsh one.
2. There’s nothing like a house you made yourself.
This man is clearly quite impressed with himself, and who can blame him? He built that house himself before there was a home depot in every town.
3. These legends biked across 1,900 miles of the American Frontier.
Talk about service to your country. This is the U.S. Army’s first and only bicycle division, the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps from Fort Missoula, Montana. These boys had some good cardio.
If you think these soldiers are legends make sure to follow us!
4. You have to start somewhere.
Imagine traveling on your wagon thousands of miles, and starting at square one. This guy picked up his axe, and started building.
5. That’s what I call a picnic.
All four of these big fellas fit in the back of that wagon? I’m sorry but imagine the smell of these boys.
6. On the frontier they did haircuts with a knife.
You had to really trust your barber, because this guy was just holding a steak cutting knife. It did the job though.
7. They’re drawing up a map.
It’s pretty amazing how great our ancestors’sense of direction was. I mean these guys traveled thousands of miles across the U.S. no problem.
8. It’s an entire town on wheels.
When you think about it, humans could travel to most places in groups of fifty to one hundred, and we could populate basically everywhere on the planet.
9. Why did we ever abandon the covered wagon?
I mean it’s basically just a tent on wheels, I’d love to take one of them camping.
10. You’ve still got a long way to go, friend.
That must be an intense and emotional feeling, looking out as far as your eye can see and only seeing a sea of green.
11. Nebraska in the 1880s.
Although it was a nearly impossible life, having your own little house and animals does sound pretty amazing.
12. This is an Infantry Unit in Miners Hill Virginia, 1862.
How long do you think it took them to build these little log cabins? If you have a good crew it couldn’t take more than a few days.
13. Tilling the land is so physically taxing.
The combination of traveling miles, building your own house, and tending to your own land was so taxing on people. And to top it all off they didn’t have enough to eat. People from this era looked 50 when they were 30.
14. This is an old jail and blacksmith.
Thats a tiny jail. People must have been on their best behavior in this little town.
15. When you see photos like this, it helps you understand what made the trip worth it.
The trip may have been miles of gruesome travel, but it must have been worth it when you had your own patch of land and a place to call home.
16. Since there were no roads, how often do you think these wagons broke down?
This family is making their way across the United States. They’re currently in Loup Valley, Nebraska, 1886.
17. This young buck could teach everyone a thing or two about style.
This South Western cowboy is holding a wide brimmed hat and wearing buffalo chaps. He defines the term macho.
