Historians have debated at length as to when the frontier era began, when it ended, and which were its key sub-periods. For example, the Old West subperiod is … See more

Colonial frontier
In the colonial era, before 1776, the west was of high priority for settlers and politicians. The American frontier began when Jamestown, Virginia, was settled by the English in 1607. In the earliest days of European … See more

Scores of Frederick Jackson Turner's students became professors in history departments in the western states and taught courses on the frontier influenced by his ideas. Scholars have debunked many of the myths of the frontier, but they nevertheless live … See more

• 1789: The new nation
• 1819–1820: Post-War of 1812
• 1845–1846: Before Mexican–American War See more

Cowboys
Central to the myth and the reality of the West is the American cowboy. In actuality, the life of a cowboy was a hard one and revolved around … See more

The exploration, settlement, exploitation, and conflicts of the "American Old West" form a unique tapestry of events, which has been celebrated by Americans and foreigners alike—in … See more

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• The Oregon-California Trails Association preserves, protects … See more