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When we hear the words, "The Old West," images of cowboys, Indians, gunslingers, pioneers, and gold seekers immediately spring to mind. We also commonly associate the Old West with adjectives like "wild," "untamed," and perhaps "American."
A study of the American West reveals a rich chapter in American history. No other historical era has captured the imagination of more people than the fabled era of the exploration and settlement of the United States west of the Mississippi. An exploration of these resources will provide a better understanding of the development of the American nation and the American character as a result of the settlement of the Western Frontier.
Places To Go
People To See Things To Do Teacher Resources Bibliography
Places To GoAcademic
Info: The American West: Frontier History
This site is a collection of America West history sites for academic research.
This site is a collection of America West history sites for academic research.
Jim
Janke's Old West
This web page focuses on "anything and anybody" associated with the legend and reality of 19th Century America, west of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.
This web page focuses on "anything and anybody" associated with the legend and reality of 19th Century America, west of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.
Kid
Info: Pioneers and Westward Expansion
This student-friendly Internet guide offers a collection of annotated links to resources that discuss westward expansion.
This student-friendly Internet guide offers a collection of annotated links to resources that discuss westward expansion.
Multicultural
American West
This site examines the history of the American West through the lens of multiculturalism. It offers links to online documents, course syllabi, journals, resource sites, popular culture sites, and other relevant materials regarding the American West as a region.
This site examines the history of the American West through the lens of multiculturalism. It offers links to online documents, course syllabi, journals, resource sites, popular culture sites, and other relevant materials regarding the American West as a region.
The West
A companion to the Ken Burns PBS documentary series, "The West" views the events, places, and people of the West. It also contains an archives and an assortment of links dealing with the American West.
A companion to the Ken Burns PBS documentary series, "The West" views the events, places, and people of the West. It also contains an archives and an assortment of links dealing with the American West.
WestWeb
WestWeb is a topically organized web site about the study of the American West. Under each topic heading, you will find collections of primary and secondary documents, biographical and bibliographical resources, lists of hot links to other sites of interest, and images.
WestWeb is a topically organized web site about the study of the American West. Under each topic heading, you will find collections of primary and secondary documents, biographical and bibliographical resources, lists of hot links to other sites of interest, and images.
People To SeeMountain
Men and the Fur Trade
Dedicated to the history of the trappers, explorers and traders known as Mountain Men with a map, images, photos, a library, and more.
Dedicated to the history of the trappers, explorers and traders known as Mountain Men with a map, images, photos, a library, and more.
Native
Web
The Native Web resource database contains information about all of the Native tribes of the New World including the Aztecs of Mexico.
The Native Web resource database contains information about all of the Native tribes of the New World including the Aztecs of Mexico.
Pioneers
Learn what it was like to travel across the US Frontier! You can read all about life on the trail, tools, pastimes, toys, and dangers in this cool ThinkQuest site.
Learn what it was like to travel across the US Frontier! You can read all about life on the trail, tools, pastimes, toys, and dangers in this cool ThinkQuest site.
Women
of the West
We've all heard a lot about Buffalo Bill and Kit Carson, but what about Annie Oakley and Elizabeth Simpson Bradshaw? This site focuses on the women who settled the West.
We've all heard a lot about Buffalo Bill and Kit Carson, but what about Annie Oakley and Elizabeth Simpson Bradshaw? This site focuses on the women who settled the West.
Things To DoAdventures
of Wells Fargo
Ready to take a time warp and explore the West with Wells Fargo? Now you can find out what it was like in the days of the Gold Rush. Authentic stories taken from the historical archives of Wells Fargo that let you discover life as it was on the Western Frontier.
Ready to take a time warp and explore the West with Wells Fargo? Now you can find out what it was like in the days of the Gold Rush. Authentic stories taken from the historical archives of Wells Fargo that let you discover life as it was on the Western Frontier.
The
Donner Party
This transcript of a PBS documentary leads you almost step-by-step along the route taken by the Donner expedition, from the first days of enthusiasm and optimism, across the plains and a desert to the mountains and a horrifying snow-bound winter of starvation and extreme cold.
This transcript of a PBS documentary leads you almost step-by-step along the route taken by the Donner expedition, from the first days of enthusiasm and optimism, across the plains and a desert to the mountains and a horrifying snow-bound winter of starvation and extreme cold.
Go
West Across America with Lewis and Clark
It is 1804. U.S. President Thomas Jefferson has asked Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition across western North America--unknown territory for all but Indians. The goals: map the rivers, make friends with natives, open the West to trade, and look for a Northwest Passage (an easy water route from coast to coast). Lewis and his colleague William Clark have chosen a special team for the journey, and you're invited!
It is 1804. U.S. President Thomas Jefferson has asked Meriwether Lewis to lead an expedition across western North America--unknown territory for all but Indians. The goals: map the rivers, make friends with natives, open the West to trade, and look for a Northwest Passage (an easy water route from coast to coast). Lewis and his colleague William Clark have chosen a special team for the journey, and you're invited!
The Gold Rush
Learn about the frenzied rush of gold seekers to California that started with the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill on January 24, 1848. This web site, a companion to the PBS documentary of the same name, is based on information provided by The Sacramento Bee newspaper. It presents information about the Gold Rush, classroom resources, fun facts, and links to other sites about the Gold Rush.
Learn about the frenzied rush of gold seekers to California that started with the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill on January 24, 1848. This web site, a companion to the PBS documentary of the same name, is based on information provided by The Sacramento Bee newspaper. It presents information about the Gold Rush, classroom resources, fun facts, and links to other sites about the Gold Rush.
Schoolhouse
Rock Lyrics: "Elbow Room"
Read the lyrics to the SchoolHouse Rock song "Elbow Room," which describes westward expansion in America.
Read the lyrics to the SchoolHouse Rock song "Elbow Room," which describes westward expansion in America.
Western History
Photography Collection
View a selection of historic photographs from the collections of the Denver Public Library Western History/Genealogy Department and the Colorado Historical Society.
View a selection of historic photographs from the collections of the Denver Public Library Western History/Genealogy Department and the Colorado Historical Society.
Teacher ResourcesLewis
and Clark Classroom Resources
A series of lessons and activities from the PBS site about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
A series of lessons and activities from the PBS site about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Living
Edens: Canyonlands
These classroom activities were created to parallel the one-hour television documentary "Living Edens: Canyonlands."
These classroom activities were created to parallel the one-hour television documentary "Living Edens: Canyonlands."
Union
Pacific Rail Road-History
This is the story of the first transcontinental railroad; the greatest, most daring engineering effort the country had yet seen. The idea was to span the west with iron rails from Omaha to Sacramento.
This is the story of the first transcontinental railroad; the greatest, most daring engineering effort the country had yet seen. The idea was to span the west with iron rails from Omaha to Sacramento.
Lesson Plans/WebQuests
Bibliography