1

"Buffalo Bill" Cody

Image: Illinois State University, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

If we had to name the most famous cowboy in history , Buffalo Bill Cody would probably be a top contender. Throughout his lifetime, Cody greatly contributed to shaping the image we have of the American West.

Born in Iowa in 1846, he earned his nickname while working for the Union Pacific Railway, where railroad workers were amazed by his hunting skills. But history had bigger plans in store for Cody, and he would soon become an actor , traveling throughout the eastern United States performing plays based on stories of the Wild West for more than 30 years.

Eventually, poor business management and a certain change in popular interests led Buffalo Bill to ruin and he retired from show business just two months before his death in 1917. He was, however, mourned by millions of people who considered him a hero.

2

John Henry "Doc" Holliday

Image: Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz

John Henry "Doc" Holliday was born in 1851 in Griffin, Georgia, into a wealthy family. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in Philadelphia but was shortly thereafter diagnosed with tuberculosis and advised to live in the drier, hotter climate of the West.

In Dallas, Texas, he pursued his trade as a dentist but also discovered saloons and whiskey. Soon, realizing that gambling could be much more lucrative than dentistry, he began his professional gambling career.

The rest of his life was spent among crooks, gunfights, and jailmates in New Mexico, Arizona, and California. At only 36 years old, his lungs could not keep up with his gunslinging way of life and he finally met his death in 1887 in a hotel bed in Colorado. It is said that his last words were, "This is funny."

3

Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid

Image: yavuz pancareken

The lives of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid became legendary pretty quickly. As early as 1903, their exploits inspired the first modern film —Edwin S. Porter's _The Great Train Robbery_— and since then, their adventures have not ceased to be portrayed by popular culture. In a way, they symbolize the definitive end of the romanticized Western era at the hands of 20th-century industrialization and urbanization.

Both cowboys were members of a gang known as "The Wild Bunch," which earned them a reputation as bank and train robbers. According to lore, after several years of crime and run-ins with the law, the bandits managed to escape to Latin America. Eventually, they were caught and killed in Bolivia in 1908. The fact that their graves were never found helped fuel the myth that they had, in fact, returned to the United States and lived in anonymity for many more years.

4

Jesse James

Image: Steve

Jesse James's life is one of the most emblematic of the Wild West. His criminal career began after his involvement with pro-Confederate guerrillas during the Civil War. Along with the Younger brothers, he created a gang with which they robbed banks, trains, stagecoaches, and stores from Iowa to Texas and from Tennessee to California.

It is believed that throughout the years they netted more than a quarter of a million dollars. Despite the gory nature of their heists and murders, the gang often had public sympathy.

Jesse's death is as controversial as his life. At only 34 years old, he was shot in the back by one of his gang partners, who hoped to obtain a state reward in exchange for his betrayal. The public was not happy with the government conspiring to assassinate a citizen, no matter how criminal, and the matter became a scandal, resulting in Jesse James's rise to mythical status.

5

Annie Oakley

Image: International Film Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

From an early age, Phoebe Anne Oakley Moses, better known as Annie Oakley, took up hunting to help support her family. At the age of fifteen, she won a competition against the famous marksman Frank Butler, to whom she later married. Together, they appeared in several exhibitions across the country and, in 1885, joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.

Annie was able to open the edge of a letter, shatter glass balls thrown in the air, and hit dimes held between her husband's fingers or apples placed in her poodle's mouth by shooting from 30 paces away. Her life was so rich and fascinating that she was the inspiration for several movies and plays.

6

Billy the Kid

Image: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

According to legend, Henry McCarty, better known as Billy the Kid, killed at least 21 people during his career as a notorious outlaw in New Mexico. However, he cemented his place in the pantheon of frontier legends not so much for his murders as for his personality and incredible marksmanship skills.

Born in the late 1850s in the Irish slums of New York City, McCarty had to reinvent himself as a gunslinger after the death of his mother when he was just a teenager. His life and the events surrounding his death at the hands of legendary lawman Pat Garrett were immortalized in numerous films, books, and songs. In fact, Billy the Kid holds the record as the most portrayed individual in cinematic history.

7

Lucille Mulhall

Image: Melissa Walsh

By 1900, split riding skirts allowed women to compete in rodeos without shocking Victorian-era audiences. But the truth is that women have been participating in exhibitions even in the early days of the Old West.

Lucille Mulhall is considered America's first legendary cowgirl. Born in 1885, Lucille grew up on her family's ranch in Oklahoma, where she acquired her incredible cattle-roping skills. She began performing in shows as a teenager and, throughout her career, competed in many rodeos, setting a few roping world records.

8

Belle Starr

Image: Pixabay

Perhaps the most famous female gunslinger in the history of the West was Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr, better known as Belle Starr. Born in Missouri in 1848, Belle had a fairly well-to-do childhood and was a bright student. However, when her family moved to Texas after the Civil War, the young girl stumbled upon the James-Younger gang. After falling in love with Cole Younger, she became a member of the gang.

That love affair didn't last long, but a few others followed, which led her to live outside the law for the rest of her life. Her alleged riding and gun skills increased her fame throughout the country, turning her into a legend.

9

Wyatt Earp

Image: National Archives at College Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Wyatt Earp belonged to a large family whose members were famous for being gunfighters, gamblers, bison hunters, miners, and lawmen. While all were notorious Wild West characters, it was Wyatt's exploits that have gone down in history. His life is testimony to the ambiguity that prevailed at a time when there was no distinction between upholding the law and transgressing it.

After a long life traveling the American West as a deputy sheriff, bounty hunter, and saloon owner, in 1905 Wyatt settled permanently in Los Angeles, California. He became a film consultant in Hollywood, befriending producers, directors, and actors. It is even said that John Wayne took Earp’s stories as inspiration for some of the tough characters he portrayed on the big screen.

10

"Wild Bill" Hickok

Image: Turuncu Sakal

James Butler Hickok, better known as "Wild Bill," is a legendary folk hero thanks to the many stories that romanticized his life as a soldier, gunslinger, gambler, marshal, and actor. Over the years, his adventures have been retold numerous times in pop culture. The truth is that Hickok did more in his thirty-nine years of life than most who lived twice as long.

Since his birth in Illinois in 1837, he is said to have been involved in some of the most dramatic and, at the same time, most spectacular events in the history of the Wild West. His death, unsurprisingly, is also legendary. In 1876, while playing a game of poker in a saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, a man named Jack McCall shot him in the back of the head. The cards he was holding at the time —two pairs of Aces and black Eights— became the well-known "dead man's hand."

1

Cowboys

The image of the rugged cowboy is arguably the ultimate symbol of the American West, popularized by folklore and Hollywood westerns. Yet, the entire lifestyle and wardrobe of the classic cowboy were inherited from Mexican cattle herders, known as vaqueros.

When Anglo-American settlers moved into Texas and California in the 19th century, they encountered Spanish and Mexican ranching methods that had existed for generations. The settlers adopted these traditions immediately. The iconic cowboy hat evolved from the wide-brimmed sombrero; "chaps" came directly from the protective chaparreras; and the lasso was an adaptation of the reata. Even the language of the West reveals its origin: terms like rodeo, lariat, mustang, and buckaroo (a phonetic corruption of vaquero) are all borrowed from Spanish.

2

Skyscrapers

The towering skyscrapers of New York and Chicago defined 20th-century urban modernity and American architectural dominance. While American engineers perfected the high-rise and invented the safety elevator, the structural engineering that made skyscrapers possible belongs to Great Britain.

Before a building can safely scale dozens of stories, it requires an internal skeleton to support its weight. The world’s first iron-framed building was actually the Ditherington Flax Mill in Shropshire, England, constructed in 1797. British engineers pioneered the use of internal cast iron columns and beams to make textile mills fireproof. This exact framework was later adapted and upgraded to steel by American architects to create the modern skyline.

3

Hamburgers

Nothing says America like a juicy hamburger. While the fast food industry turned the burger into a multi-billion-dollar business, the dish is firmly rooted in European maritime history.

The clue is right there in the name: the hamburger originates from the port city of Hamburg, Germany. In the 19th century, Hamburg was a major transatlantic departure point. German immigrants travelling to the United States brought along a popular regional delicacy called the "Hamburg steak", a seasoned, minced beef patty that was grilled or fried. Once in America, creative food vendors realized that placing this German steak between two slices of bread made it the perfect portable meal for busy industrial workers.

4

The rocket takeoff countdown

The dramatic "T-minus ten seconds and counting" ritual heard during NASA launches feels like a product of pure Cold War American aerospace engineering. However, counting backward to build suspense wasn’t invented by scientists, but by a German filmmaker.

Director Fritz Lang introduced the concept of the countdown in his 1929 silent science fiction masterpiece, Woman in the Moon . During the film’s rocket launch scene, Lang realized that counting forward felt anticlimactic. To maximize dramatic tension, he decided to count down to zero instead. Years later, when German rocket scientists immigrated to the U.S. to help build the American space program, they brought this technique into real-life mission control rooms.

5

The song "My Way"

Frank Sinatra’s legendary 1969 hit "My Way" is considered the ultimate anthem of the self-made American man. But before Ol’ Blue Eyes put his spin on it, the melody belonged to a melancholy French pop song.

The original tune, titled "Comme d'habitude" ("As Usual"), was composed by Jacques Revaux and Gilles Thibaut, and released by French pop star Claude François in 1967. The original French lyrics tell a depressing story about the mundane, daily routine of a married couple whose love has completely died out. Singer-songwriter Paul Anka heard the track while vacationing in the South of France, bought the rights, and wrote entirely new lyrics tailored specifically to Sinatra’s persona.

6

American cheese

Although it is a staple of grilled sandwiches and burgers, the technology to create meltable processed American cheese was actually pioneered in the Alpine valleys of Switzerland.

In 1922, Swiss food scientists were looking for a way to stop regional cheeses like Emmentaler from spoiling during long export journeys to warm climates. They discovered that by shredding the cheese, heating it up, and adding sodium citrate, the dairy fats would emulsify. This prevented the cheese from separating into an oily mess when melted and allowed it to cool back down into a uniform, stable block. A few years later, American businessman James L. Kraft patented a similar process using cheddar cheese.

7

The Star Spangled Banner

The United States National Anthem tells the story of the 1814 bombardment of Fort McHenry. While Francis Scott Key penned the patriotic lyrics, the music belongs to a popular British club song.

Key wrote his poem to fit the exact cadence of a melody titled "To Anacreon in Heaven". Composed by John Stafford Smith around 1780, this tune served as the official anthem for an exclusive gentlemen’s amateur music club in London.

8

Cars

Car culture is deeply embedded in American life. Yet, the invention of the automobile belongs across the Atlantic, to one of the fathers of Mercedes-Benz.

German engineer Karl Benz patented the Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1886, widely recognized as the world's first modern gasoline-powered automobile. At the same time, French innovators like Panhard and Levassor pioneered the modern automotive layout, including placing the engine in the front and using a rear-wheel-drive system. Henry Ford undeniably revolutionized the world by using the assembly line to make cars affordable for the masses, but the machine itself was a European invention.

9

Peanut butter

Peanut butter is an irreplaceable childhood comfort food in the United States, present in millions of lunchboxes every day. While American innovators like Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and George Washington Carver popularized and refined it, they didn't invent it.

The practice of roasting peanuts and mashing them into a smooth paste dates back thousands of years to the ancient Aztec and Inca civilizations, who used it for nutritional and medicinal purposes. Furthermore, the first modern patent for peanut paste wasn't American at all; it was granted to a Canadian chemist named Marcellus Gilmore Edson in 1884.

10

Fireworks

No American Independence Day celebration is complete without a massive fireworks display. However, this tradition predates the founding of the United States by more than a millennium.

Fireworks were invented in ancient China, tracing back as far as the Han Dynasty around the 2nd century BCE. The technology eventually traveled west via the Silk Road, long before making its way to the New World.

1

"Sic Semper Tyrannis"

Image: Scott Pruett

You’ve probably come across this motto many times—it belongs to one of the most historically significant states in our country. In fact, this state is sometimes called the "Mother of States"!

Eight U.S. presidents were born here, including none other than George Washington himself. Can you guess which state we’re talking about?

2

"Excelsior"

Image: Matheus Cenali

Many iconic landmarks make this state one of the most famous—Times Square, Broadway, and Wall Street, to name a few. It’s also known for its apple and maple syrup production.

When it comes to history, this state played a fundamental role. The Federalist Papers , which helped shape the Constitution, were written here! We bet you know which state we’re talking about—don’t you?

3

"Live Free or Die"

Image: Brian Wangenheim

Home to Mount Washington, this state is renowned for its stunning landscapes. Its impressive quarries and granite formations earned it the nickname "The Granite State."

This state played a key role in the American Revolution , serving as an early center of resistance against British rule. It later became the ninth state to ratify the US Constitution. So, what's your guess?

4

"Dum Spiro Spero"

Image: Dylan Mullins

This state is home to historic Fort Sumter, where the American Civil War officially began . It’s also the birthplace of Andrew Jackson, the seventh US president—though some historical debate remains.

On the other hand, this US state is known as "The Palmetto State" for its beautiful palmetto trees, which are also featured on its flag. Think you've got it?

5

"Friendship"

Image: Lori Stevens

Known as "The Lone Star State," this state was once an independent republic before joining the US. It’s home to the Alamo , the historic site of a pivotal battle in its revolution.

In addition to Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson, famous figures like Beyoncé and Farrah Fawcett were also born here!

6

"Eureka"

Image: Jake Blucker

This is the splendid motto of a state famous for its wine and citrus fruit production. It's also considered a tech hub for being home to the iconic Silicon Valley, a global center for tech innovation.

Known as "The Golden State," it boasts famous landmarks like the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Sign. Got the answer?

7

"Sic Semper Tyrannis": Virginia

Image: Richard Hedrick

You got it right! Sic Semper Tyrannis is Virginia’s state motto, meaning "Thus always to tyrants" in Latin. Chosen in 1776, this phrase symbolizes Virginia’s historic stand against tyranny, reflecting its key role in the Revolutionary War.

8

"Excelsior": New York

Image: Luke Stackpoole

If you guessed New York, congratulations! Excelsior , meaning "Ever Upward" or "Higher," has been the state’s motto since 1778 . True to its meaning, New York chose this motto to symbolize its relentless ambition and drive for progress. Did you know that?

9

"Live Free or Die": New Hampshire

Image: The New York Public Library

New Hampshire adopted "Live Free or Die" as its official state motto in 1945. The phrase was coined by General John Stark , a hero of the American Revolutionary War . In 1809, Stark was invited to an anniversary reunion of the Battle of Bennington, where he had fought and led New Hampshire militiamen. Unable to attend due to poor health, he sent a letter with his toast: "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."

10

"Dum Spiro Spero": South Carolina

Image: Leo Heisenberg

Dum Spiro Spero is South Carolina’s official state motto! Officially adopted in 1776, this Latin phrase means "While I Breathe, I Hope." Pretty inspiring, isn’t it? But that’s not all—South Carolina actually has 2 mottos ! The other, also adopted in 1776 and engraved on the original Great Seal, is Animis Opibusque Parati ("Prepared in Mind and Resources").

11

"Friendship": Texas

Image: Avi Werde

Texas chose a powerful word as its state motto! "Friendship" has symbolized Texas since 1836, when it declared independence from Mexico and became a republic. The motto remained even after Texas joined the US in 1845 .

Representing the state’s unity and diplomatic intentions, the word was officially adopted as the state motto in 1930 .

12

"Eureka": California

Image: Maarten van den Heuvel

You were right! Eureka is California’s state motto, meaning "I have found it" in Greek. But why this phrase? Well, California's state motto takes inspiration from the Gold Rush that kicked off in 1848, after the precious metal was discovered in the state's lands.