The Wild West is often romanticized in movies and stories, but the reality was much stranger than fiction. Beyond the gunfights and gold rushes, there were bizarre occurrences and unusual social norms that history books often overlook. Here are ten surprising facts about the Wild West that you probably didn’t know.
The Case of the Traveling Corpse
Elmer McCurdy, a wannabe outlaw, robbed a train in Oklahoma in 1911, hoping for a big score. Instead, he only managed to get away with $46. Shortly after, lawmen tracked him down and killed him. But here’s where it gets weird: McCurdy’s embalmed corpse was sold to a traveling carnival. For over six decades, his body was bought and sold, displayed as a sideshow attraction at fairs and even in haunted houses. In 1976, while being used as a prop during the filming of The Six Million Dollar Man, his body was finally identified. McCurdy was then laid to rest in the Boot Hill Cemetery in Dodge City, Kansas.[1]
The Southpaw Puzzle
For years, historians believed Billy the Kid was left-handed because of a famous photo showing him with a gun belt on his left side. However, tintype photos create a reversed image. This means the gun belt was likely on his right side, and he probably used his right hand to fire his Winchester rifle. Also, the loading gate on that rifle was only made for right-handed users. So, while it’s possible Billy the Kid adapted to right-handed guns, the photo isn’t solid proof of his left-handedness.[2]
Gold Rush Reruns
The California Gold Rush of 1848–1849 is famous, but it wasn’t the first in America. The first major gold rush occurred in 1799 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, when a boy named Conrad Reed found a large gold rock on his father’s farm. This discovery led to many people rushing to the area to find their fortunes, predating the more famous western gold rushes.[3]
The Shockingly Brief Gunfight
The Gunfight at the OK Corral is one of the most famous events of the Wild West, involving the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday against the Clanton and McLaury brothers. But the entire gunfight only lasted about 30 seconds. Despite its fame, the shootout wasn’t even at the OK Corral. It took place on the present-day intersection of Third Street and Fremont Street in Tombstone, Arizona.[4]
The Real-Life TV Saloon
Fans of the TV show Gunsmoke will remember Miss Kitty’s Long Branch Saloon. This saloon was a real place in Dodge City, Kansas, but its exact origins are unknown. The original saloon burned down in the Front Street Fire of 1885, but it was later rebuilt. Today, a version of the Long Branch Saloon still exists, serving more as a tourist attraction for Gunsmoke fans than a true recreation of its 19th-century counterpart.[5]
The Old (Old, Old) West
While Jamestown is often credited as the first permanent European settlement in the United States, the Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico predates it by at least 500 years. The Acoma Pueblo, known as “Sky City,” was a thriving Native American settlement with a population of about 5,000. It served as a significant cultural and trade center long before European settlers arrived.[6]
The First (Phony) Film Cowboy
Broncho Billy Anderson, star of the 1903 silent film The Great Train Robbery, is considered America’s first cowboy movie star. But Anderson, whose real name was Maxwell Henry Aronson, was not a cowboy. He was born in Arkansas and moved to New York City to work in the film industry. He acted the part of a cowboy, but he had no real connection to the Wild West.[7]
The Double-Buried Jesse James
Jesse James was initially buried in his front yard in Kearney, Missouri, to protect his grave from trophy hunters. Later, he was reburied in Mount Olivet Cemetery. In 1948, a 101-year-old man named J. Frank Dalton claimed to be the real Jesse James and was even allowed to legally adopt the name. Dalton was buried in Granbury, Texas, with locals celebrating him as the famous outlaw. DNA testing later confirmed that the body in Kearney was the real Jesse James, debunking Dalton’s claims.[8]
Cowboy Hats Weren’t Cowboy Hats
The iconic ten-gallon cowboy hats weren’t worn by cowboys in the 19th century. These hats became popular in the 1920s due to Hollywood movies. Real cowboys wore smaller, flat-brimmed Stetson hats, known as the “Boss of the Plains.” These hats were waterproof, provided better protection from the elements, and could even be used as water buckets for horses.[9]
The West Had Real Gun Control
Contrary to popular belief, the Wild West had strict gun control laws. Towns like Deadwood, Dodge City, and Tombstone required visitors to hand in their guns at the sheriff’s office upon entering the town. They would receive a token for their firearms and could retrieve them when leaving. This was a way to maintain order and prevent violence in these frontier towns. Local residents were often exempt from these rules.[10]
The Wild West was a fascinating and complex period in American history. These surprising facts reveal that the reality of life on the frontier was far more nuanced and strange than the legends might suggest. From traveling corpses to early forms of gun control, the Old West continues to surprise and intrigue us.
What do you think about these Wild West facts? Let us know in the comments below!
