Examines various aspects of life on cattle ranches in the nineteenth century, describing the reasons for becoming a rancher or a cowboy, the hard work involved, food and living arrangements, and more.

Describes the various articles of clothing worn by cowboys and others who lived in the western United States during the nineteenth century.

Describes the lure of gold that drew both men and women west and discusses how they lived, the difficulties they faced, the impact of the gold rush on Native Americans, and more.

Describes the hard rock mining industry that developed in the American west following the gold rush, including the operations of a mine and the lives of the miners and their families.

Describes how pioneers set out across the United States and Canada in the nineteenth century looking for a better life in the West--the routes they took, the covered wagons they used, what they ate, the dangers they faced, and more.

Describes the lives and experiences of women in the nineteenth-century American west, including immigrants, African Americans, and Native Americans.