The Wild West has numerous myths regarding its rich history. It’s no wonder. Hollywood especially loves to dramatize various historical events that took place in the Wild West way back in the day. For instance, you might be surprised to know that the whole Hollywood trope about outlaws only wearing black hats while lawmen wore white hats was rooted in fiction. We’ll take a look at more of the common myths that were spread regarding the Wild West.
1. The West Was Lawless and All Chaos
In fact, even though there was a notable amount of crime, numerous frontier towns also managed to have well structured legal systems in place to deal with the ups and downs.
2. Cowboys Only Wore Cowboy Hats
The iconic Stetson hat didn’t soar in popularity until the late 19th century. Usually, most cowboys would wear bowler hats or even wide-brimmed hats such as sombreros.
3. Outlaws Wore Black Hats and Lawmen Wore White Hats
This Hollywood trope was all creative inspiration. The reality is that both the outlaws and the lawmen were sure to dress practically, and oftentimes did so to remain indistinguishable from one another.
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4. Gunslingers Engaged in Dramatic Duels
The quick-draw duels that are so often shown in the Western movies were in fact exceedingly rare. Gunfights that did break out were often unplanned and usually transpired in bars or ambushes.
5. Billy the Kid Killed 21 Men
The notorious outlaw was rumored to have killed one man during each year of his life. However, historians actually think the real number was much closer to four or five.
6. Bank Robberies Were Common
Even though the movies try to make it seem like bank robberies would happen all the time out in the wild west, in fact, bank robberies were very rare. The security was very tight, and then the Wild West banks that were targeted were oftentimes very small.
7. The American Frontier Was Mostly Desert
Most folks would lead you to believe that the American Frontier was largely made up of desert. However, a lot of it actually consisted of fertile plains, forests, and mountains.
8. The Wild West Was Full of Saloon Brawls
When you picture the Wild West you’re not alone if you just picture a ton of saloons that are filled with angry patrons and huge brawls. In fact, most saloons were common community hubs where business, politics, and social events took place.
9. Cowboys Only Rode Horses
Largely thanks to all the Western movies that have sprung out of Hollywood, numerous folks are convinced that cowboys would only ride by horseback. However, there were plenty of cowboys that would
10. Women Had No Power in the Wild West
This myth is plain old nonsense. Numerous women were business owners, owned land, and would even serve as law enforcers, with an example being Stagecoach Mary, who was a postal carrier in Montana.
11. Jesse James Was a Robin Hood Figure
Even though the legend implies that Jesse James would rob the rich to give to the poor, the reality is that he would generally rob those banks and trains, solely for his own personal gain.
12. Sheriff Badges Looked Like Perfect Five-Pointed Stars
In fact, real sheriff badges came in a wide variety of colors. Some of them were homemade, while others were round, and then there were plenty of sheriff badges that didn’t even say “Sheriff” at all.
13. Buffalo Bill Was an Authentic Cowboy
Buffalo Billy Cody knew how to work a crowd, and that’s really what he did. He was much more of a showman than he was ever a cowboy.
14. Tombstone, Arizona, Was the Deadliest Town
While Tombstone had its share of crime, it was by no means the deadliest town. Much of its reputation stemmed from the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
15. Outlaws Were Easily Recognizable
Many of the most notorious criminals that lived during the height of the Wild West also were very keen on carrying out normal lives. They would do their best to blend into their communities until their actual crimes were discovered.
16. Most Cowboys Were Gunslingers
In fact, many cowboys were ranch workers who would spend much more time herding cattle than they ever did firing off guns in dangerous situations.
17. The U.S. Government Supported All Homesteaders
Many settlers would end up facing difficult broken promises, gritty conditions, and land disputes. This would oftentimes result in them then being pushed out by railroads and corporations.
18. The Pony Express Was a Huge Success
The Pony Express only lasted for a mere 18 months before the telegraph ultimately ended up rendering it irrelevant. However, Hollywood went and did its thing, and turned it into a legendary service.
19. Gold Rush Miners Struck It Rich Easily
Most prospectors that were out there keeping themselves busy in the Wild West never ended up finding gold; instead, they were buried in debt and/or working for the mining companies.
20. Cowboys Lived In Isolation On The Open Range
This, indeed was not the case. Cowboys would often work together in teams, live in bunkhouses, and generally maintained many close-knit communities. The whole picture of a lone and emotionally vacant cowboy roaming endless plains is mostly just a myth.
