People love the American Wild West Towns and it is well-integrated within popular culture, with the likes of Back to the Future III being set among the prospectors and pioneers. For fans of the Wild West, no time in history can match up to the period between 1865 and 1895. Today, there are plenty of towns across America that still embrace the saloon-swinging ways of the past. Below, we take you on a journey through America’s Wild West.
Cody, Wyoming
Cody, Wyoming is the throughway to the Yellowstone National Park, but it’s much more than that. The town, which claims to be the “Rodeo Capital of the World”, was named after William Frederick Cody (aka Buffalo Bill/The Colonel).
We suggest a visit to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. This giant attraction is home to five incredible themed museums including the Plains Indians Museum, Buffalo Bill Museum, and the Draper Natural History Museum. If you head into the downtown area, you will find it teeming with saloons and original cabins used by the notorious outlaw Butch Cassidy.
To get in the spirit for your trip, try your hand at this Western-inspired slot and dual your way through the game to meet the pot of gold.
Silverton, Colorado
If the Wild West is on your bucket list, you should make sure you visit Silverton, Colorado. Sat between two San Juan Mountain passes, Silverton is the mining town that never stopped. Throughout the 1870s, this mining town grew considerably and spanned more than four million acres. By the time it had finished expanding, Silverton became a vital mining machine to neighbouring towns.
Today, there is plenty to do for Wild West fanatics. Our top pick is the journey along the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to pay a visit to the old Silverton Jail and Mining Heritage Centre. For those of you wanting to find your inner prospector, you need to check out the Old Hundred Gold Mine.
Bandera, Texas
Texas is notorious for its cowboy ways and is hailed as the “Cowboy Capital of the World”. Bandera held a central place in the Wild West and was the site of many altercations between the Comanche and Apache Indians and the Spanish. The name of the town comes from the red bandana, which was used to mark the boundaries of hunting grounds.
For a real authentic experience, you can visit the original courthouse and jail to see where the dastardly outlaws would have been put on trial. Further, you should pay a visit to the Frontier Times Museum, which is home to more than 40,000 Wild Western relics.
Deadwood, South Dakota
This is an exciting place to visit with a sordid past. In 1874, the area was the epicentre of one of the largest gold rushes in America. However, as things died down, the area of Deadwood was taken over by gunslingers and outlaws. The most famous of them all was Calamity Jane, the sharpshooting raconteur with connections to Wild Bill Hickok.
On your visit to Deadwood, you can visit Mount Moriag Cemetery, the resting place of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. Also, you can witness Main Street shootouts and try your luck hunting for gold.
The Wild West was a time of Cowboys, Indians, and a push for economic growth. Popular culture has welcomed the era with open arms, with games, films, and books being created in its influence. Today, the most famous Wild West towns across America are still embracing the way of life, which brings in flocks of tourists every year. Are you planning to be one of them?
