America’s history has long been linked with domestic animals. It is hard to imagine what our nation would have looked like in its early years without the hard-working horse and ox, let alone the backyard flocks of chickens. While many, many breeds have been important to our nation throughout the years, a few stand out… Continue reading 10 Animal Breeds Important to American History
Tag: The West
Did Old-Time Cowboys Really Yodel?
There seems to be an idea that yodeling had little history in cowboy tradition. However, this sentiment does not line up with the observations of John Lomax.
Kansas Forts and Bases
Not all of us can readily absorb military history without getting bogged down in the technicalities. Thankfully, Kansas Forts and Bases: Sentinels on the Prairie by Debra Goodrich Bisel and Michelle M. Martin is supremely readable, providing an era-by-era overview of Kansas forts as reflective of the broader picture of Kansas history overall.
Western Swing Guitar Style
Here’s a superb introduction to the unique chord progressions of this toe-tapping sound, geared toward the rhythm guitarist.
Beef Cattle Talk: A Glosssary
From 3 in 1 to heterosis to yield grade, all those confusing cattle terms you have wondered about.
Kansas Historical Markers
Over 120 historical markers dot the Kansas landscape, telling the story of our fascinating state. If you are looking for the Kansas historical markers, the Kansas Historical Society offers a complete listing organized by county. Each entry provides the full text of the marker, along with its address and GPS coordinates. As you visit the… Continue reading Kansas Historical Markers
El Cuartelejo: Rediscovery
Archaeologists have determined that the ultimate cause of El Cuartelejo’s demise was fire, as testified by the remains of charred posts and corn seeds. The Comanches who later took up residence near the pueblo had a legend that the ruins were struck by lightning. In any case, for the next hundred years, the walls slowly… Continue reading El Cuartelejo: Rediscovery
El Cuartelejo: A Place of Refuge
The Pueblo Indians of New Mexico found themselves in frequent conflict with the Spanish conquistadors. The conquerors imprisoned or killed the native religious leaders, compelled the people to accept the religion of Spain at the point of the sword, and put them to work in labor camps. Repeated uprisings brought the Indians little except bloody… Continue reading El Cuartelejo: A Place of Refuge
Why Cowboys Sang
The singing cowboy is by no means a Hollywood invention. History records the fact that cowboys always sang, starting back when cattle trails began.
The Agricultural Adjustment Act in the Great Plains: Part 2
Adjusting Livestock Production In an effort to reduce hog numbers, payments were also distributed to farmers who would destroy their piglets and pregnant sows. About 6 million piglets were slaughtered under the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA). A cattle-purchasing program was similarly implemented under the Drought Relief Service in areas where the Dust Bowl had hit the… Continue reading The Agricultural Adjustment Act in the Great Plains: Part 2
