Few periods in American history have been more romanticized than the era of the "Wild West," with its cowboys, gunslingers, prospectors, and outlaws.

7 Myths About the "Wild West"

U.S. History

F ew periods in American history have been more romanticized than the era of the "Wild West," with its cowboys, gunslingers, prospectors, and outlaws. Dime novels and Western movies created a frontier myth in which rugged men rode out to conquer a barren landscape and fight "bad guys," and the image became a popular and enduring part of American culture — despite the many historical inaccuracies involved.

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