The Donner Party expedition is one of the most notorious stories in all of American history. It's also a fascinating snapshot of the westward expansion of the United States, and the families and individuals who sacrificed so much to build new lives in a largely unknown landscape. From the preparation for the journey to each disastrous leg of the trip, this book shows the specific bad decisions that led to the party's predicament in the Sierra Nevada...

Provides the stories of the young pioneers who traveled the harshroads west with their pioneering families in covered wagons in the hopes of reaching a place to start a new life and fulfill their dreams.

"Describes the people and events of the age of the Wild West in the year 1876. The reader's choices reveal the historical details from the perspective of an outlaw, a lawman, and a fortune-seeker in Deadwood, Dakota Territory"--Provided by publisher.

Presents an account of frontier life for women in the American West through brief biographies of fifteen famous individuals, including Calamity Jane, Mary Fields, Mary Elizabeth Lease, Lola Montez, Lotta Crabtree, Dona Maria Gertrudes "La Tules" Barcelo, Annie Oakley, Belle Starr, Polly Pry, Sarah Winnemucca, Carry Nation, Mary Ellen Pleasant, The-Other-Magpie, Nellie Cashman, and Esther Hobart McQuigg Slack Morris.

Describes the experiences of pioneers who settled the American West, discussing war with Native Americans, troubles such as harsh winters and grasshoppers, and the creation of towns.

Follows the lives of early settlers as they followed the trails of the American West, noting key events and geographical locations along the way.

Explores the experiences of women who lived on the American frontier as homesteaders, ranchers, outlaws, miners, and reformers, including Sacajawea, Narcissa Whitman, Calamity Jane, and Nellie Cashman.

"Describes disgusting details about daily life in the American frontier, including housing, food, and sanitation"--Provided by publisher.