The Wild West Extravaganza is a weekly history podcast exploring the real-life people and events of the Old West and the American frontier. Each episode explores the true stories of outlaws, gunfighters, lawmen, cowboys, Native Americans, and frontiersmen (and women) who shaped the Old West. From famous legends like Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, and Geronimo to forgotten tales of shootouts, cattle drives, and frontier towns, this show delivers the grit, drama, and truth behind Western history.
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In the Spring of 1803, the United States acquired the Territory of Louisiana, a largely uncharted tract of wilderness stretching from Canada down to New Orleans. Over 800,000 square miles that, as far the maps were concerned, remained a mystery. President Thomas Jefferson then ordered an expedition to explore this newly purchased land all the way west to the Pacific Ocean. Tasked with leading this endeavor – officially known as the Corp of Discovery – were Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The Corp of Discovery was to travel some 8,000 miles, navigating their way up the Missouri River before turning west and crossing the Rocky Mountains. From the Oto to the Mandan and from the Shoshone to the Clatsop, Lewis and Clark would encounter dozens of tribes along their way, navigate hostile rivers and mountain passes, and even a few unfriendly grizzlies. But what about the rumors of woolly mammoth and a lost tribe of Welshmen? What became of Lewis and Clark after the expedition? What about Sacagawea and Clark's slave York? This is a compilation of previously released material.
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Check out the Wild West Extravaganza website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/
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Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976
Journals of Lewis & Clark - https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/
Explorers Podcast - https://explorerspodcast.com/lewis-and-clark/
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Kit Carson | Adobe Walls (Part 6)
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 • Duration 31:02
In November of 1864, famed frontiersman Kit Carson picked a fight with the Lords of the Southern Plains – the Comanche. The bloody engagement that followed, known as the first Battle of Adobe Walls, saw Carson and his men outnumbered 10 to 1 against the Comanche and their allies, the Kiowa. But why? Why did Carson pick a fight with the Comanche on their own home turf? What exactly is Adobe Walls, and what did Kit Carson do with the rest of his limited time alive? How did Kit Carson die? What sort of legacy did he leave behind?
Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/
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Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d
Carson’s Autobiography - https://archive.org/details/kitcarsonsautobi0000cars/page/106/mode/2up
Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides - https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Thunder-Carson-Conquest-American/dp/1400031109
Kit Carson Home Restoration - https://www.kitcarsonhouse.org/
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John Wesley Hardin | COMPILATION
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 • Duration 02:30:00
In November of 1868 – at just the tender age of fifteen – John Wesley Hardin killed his first man. And, a few weeks later, he’d kill yet again; this time, three soldiers who came looking for him. Fearing a hangman’s noose, Wes struck first, dispatching two troopers with a shotgun and finishing the third with an old cap and ball colt. And you better believe the hits just kept on coming. Before it was all said and done, Hardin would be responsible for anywhere between twenty to possibly as many as fifty killings, each of which – according to him – were justifiable. But how true is that? Was John Wesley Hardin a persecuted hero or a homicidal killer? How’d the son of a minister become one of the deadliest gunmen of the Old West? And did he REALLY kill someone just for snoring? Also discussed are Wild Bill Hickok, the Bloody Bender family, the Sutton-Taylor Feud, and John Selman Sr.
*This is a compilation of a previously released series. My apologies to those who've already heard it, but I experienced a few setbacks this past week due to a dadgum hurricane! Do not despair, brand new content is coming your way next Wednesday!*
Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/
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Bill Longley | The Deadliest Gun in Texas - https://www.wildwestextra.com/bill-longley-the-deadliest-gun-in-texas/
Wild Bill Hickok - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok/
Shootout at Hide Park aka Newton Massacre - https://www.wildwestextra.com/the-newton-massacre/
The Life of John Wesley Hardin by John W. Hardin - https://www.amazon.com/Life-John-Wesley-Hardin/dp/1545102228/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2N2NHCZI3QKV5&keywords=john+wesley+hardin+books&qid=1704831121&sprefix=john+wesley+hardi%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-1
John Wesley Hardin: Dark Angel of Texas by Leon Metz - https://www.amazon.com/John-Wesley-Hardin-Angel-Texas/dp/0806129956/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2N2NHCZI3QKV5&keywords=john+wesley+hardin+books&qid=1704831176&sprefix=john+wesley+hardi%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-3
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Captain Jack & the Modoc War | The Battle of the Stronghold (Part 2)
Wednesday, September 28, 2022 • Duration 38:13
This is part 2 in the series on the Modoc war. If you haven’t already listened to part 1, you may want to do so. Captain Jack & the Modoc War | Part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/captain-jack-the-modoc-war/
We’ve already discussed the Modoc people, a bit of their history, and the unfortunate events leading up to the war. About how Captain Jack and his band weren’t content with the living conditions on the Klamath reservation, so they simply left and headed south, back to their homeland around Tule lake. And we ended that episode with the first shot of the war and the beginning of the Battle of Lost River. This episode we’ll cover the first Battle of the Stronghold, the Peace Commission, months of negotiations, and finally – treachery.
Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west
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The Story Out West | The Stronghold - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCJ35JYWecA
The Modocs and Their War by Keith A. Murray - https://www.amazon.com/Modocs-Their-Civilization-American-Indian/dp/0806113316/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2PZDA5FRSWSOS&keywords=modoc+war&qid=1664153682&s=books&sprefix=modoc+war%2Cstripbooks%2C130&sr=1-8
Remembering the Modoc War by Boyd Cothran - https://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Modoc-War-Redemptive-Directions/dp/1469633345/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2PZDA5FRSWSOS&keywords=modoc+war&qid=1664153623&s=books&sprefix=modoc+war%2Cstripbooks%2C130&sr=1-3
Chief Joseph & the Nez Perce War - https://www.wildwestextra.com/joseph/
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Captain Jack & the Modoc War | The Drums of War (Part 1)
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 • Duration 30:01
In 1874 Kintpuash – better known as Captain Jack - led his small band of the Modoc people off of a reservation in southern Oregon and back to their homeland in Northern California. What occurred after would be one of the most expensive wars ever fought on U.S. soil; one which pitted just 50 to 60 Modoc warriors against nearly a thousand U.S. troops and volunteers.
Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west
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Modoc Nation - https://modocnation.com/
The California Genocide - https://fullertonobserver.com/2020/07/07/the-california-native-american-genocide/
Bloody Point sources - https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/labe/endnotes.htm
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Kit vs Goliath
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 • Duration 24:51
What happens when a young Kit Carson faces off against a mountain of a man at the annual fur trapper’s rendezvous? What IS a rendezvous, anyway? And who gets the girl???
Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/
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Blood and Thunder – Hampton Sides - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400031109?tag=onamzjoshta02-20&linkCode=ssc&creativeASIN=1400031109&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7
They Called Him Wild Bill – Joseph D. Rosa - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0806115386?tag=onamzjoshta02-20&linkCode=ssc&creativeASIN=0806115386&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7
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Wild Bill Hickok | Death in Deadwood (Part 3)
Wednesday, August 17, 2022 • Duration 37:10
This is part 3 and the final installment of this series on Wild Bill Hickok. If you have not already listened to the first two episodes, please do so. Links below. We’ve already pretty much covered Bill’s entire life; his childhood, his adventures during the war, his time as a lawman, and - finally - his decline. If you’ll recall we left off with Hickok in St. Louis, attempting to organize an expedition bound for the black hills. And there we shall begin. What events led to Bill's premature death in Deadwood at the hands of Jack McCall? And what happened after?
Research for this series heavily relied upon biographer Joseph G. Rosa, his book They Called Him Wild Bill in particular.
Part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-one/
Part 2 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-two/
Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west
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They called him Wild Bill by Joseph G. Rosa -
https://www.amazon.com/They-Called-Him-Wild-Bill/dp/0806115386
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Wild Bill Hickok | Legendary Lawman (Part 2)
Wednesday, August 10, 2022 • Duration 56:48
Wild Bill leaves Independence after killing Davis Tutt and pursues employment as a scout and U.S Deputy Marshal. As Hickok’s notoriety increases, he goes on to serve as Marshal in the rough Kansas towns of Hays and Abilene before joining Buffalo Bill Cody and Texas Jack Omohundro in New York City. This is part 2 of Wild Bill series. In part one we covered Hickok’s childhood, his time in Bleeding Kansas, his first known gunfight with David McCanles, time spent serving the Union during the war, and the famous duel with Davis Tutt. If you haven’t already, please give it a listen and stick around for the 3rd and final installment!
Wild Bill Hickok | Part One - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-one/
Wild Bill Hickok | Part Three - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-three/
Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west
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Wild Bill Hickok | Unveiling the Legend (Part 1)
Monday, August 1, 2022 • Duration 01:00:15
Few names associated with the old west are as recognizable as Wild Bill Hickok. And for good reason. In many ways, Wild Bill was the quintessential Westerner of the later 19th century. Wagon master, scout, soldier, spy, lawman, gambler, actor, and yeah…gunfighter. A man capable of extraordinary feats of daring and bravery, yet courteous and soft-spoken when left alone, and kind to children. One of the few frontiersmen who was willing to take his guns off and go toe to toe with anyone looking for a fight. But also, a man who – even by generous accounts – was a bit too quick when it came to pulling the trigger. He could cuss like a sailor, consorted with ladies of ill repute, and would rather gamble than eat. He was friends with other notable frontiersmen like Buffalo Bill Cody, George Armstrong Custer, Kit Carson, and Calamity Jane, and Inspired future legends like U.S. Marshal Bill Tilghman and countless others.
A celebrity in his own time, Hickok continues to tickle the imagination of millions. From the early silent film era till now, everyone from Gary Cooper to Charles Bronson to Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliot, and Keith Carradine has portrayed this icon on the big screen. But who was Hickok really? What sorta man was he? As with many notorious characters of the old west, much of the legend is built on exaggerated claims and outright lies. In Hickok’s case, the truth is even more fascinating fiction. And the truth is what aiming for today.
Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west
https://www.wildwestextra.com/
Wild Bill pt 2 https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-two/
Wild Bill pt 3 https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-three/
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Bloody Bill Anderson - https://www.wildwestextra.com/46-bloody-bill-anderson-the-missouri-bushwhackers/
Making the Hickok Tutt Shot | duelist1954 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7gGgHs2lPU
1867 Harper’s Article - https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-wildbill/
History Daily Saturday Matinee | The Wild West Extravaganza - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1xSO0ZZ8yg1BkteXiYo7IH
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History Daily Presents - Jesse James & the Kid
Wednesday, July 20, 2022 • Duration 38:51
Unfortunately due to technical difficulties there will be no new episode of The Wild West Extravaganza today. But don't you worry none, I'll be leaving you in the very capable hands of Lindsay Graham, the host of History Daily.
You may know Lindsay from the excellent audio drama 1865. Or maybe American History Tellers. American Scandal, American Elections: Wicked Game, Dirty John, Doctor Death, Business wars. And on and on. Lindsay Graham knows how to make a great podcast and he most definitely knows his history, as is evidenced by my personal favorite work of his, History Daily. If you’re not familiar, at History Daily - a co-production from Airship and Noiser - they do history, daily. Every dang weekday, Lindsay Graham takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history. Whether it’s to remember the tragedy of December 7th, 1941, the day “that will live in infamy,” or to celebrate that 20th day in July 1969, when mankind reached the moon, or of course important events from the old west, History Daily is there to tell you the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world—one day at a time. So, if you’re stuck in traffic, bored at work, —wherever you are, listen to History Daily to remind yourself that something incredible happened to make that day historic.
Listen to History Daily!!!!
https://www.noiser.com/history-daily
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